[mike fried]

Originally Posted by calvin lee

i think epiphone is taking things too far with the gretsch asthetics. it's just making people think the swingster is a gretsch copy, which it is absolutely not. it doesn't feel, or sound like a gretsch. it sounds like an epiphone swingster. the swingster is an amazing guitar on it's own, and it doesn't need the gretsch comparisons to get people to buy it. i hope this is the last of the gretsch finishes for epiphone.

(my girlfriend plays a wildkat, and they're pretty cool too.)

Ditto that! I have a Swingster and it's a better-made and more versatile instrument than either the original Gretsch Nashville I owned back in the day, or the 5120's I A/B'd it against when I went shopping last year.

[bobkat]

Meh, Blech, and not interested! Not an Epi fan, have owned a few and tried many, just not my cup o tea.

[james lee]

Originally Posted by mike fried

Ditto that! I have a Swingster and it's a better-made and more versatile instrument than either the original Gretsch Nashville I owned back in the day, or the 5120's I A/B'd it against when I went shopping last year.

I found this to be true when up against a 5120 also.

[Anni_Lover]

Originally Posted by calvin lee

i think epiphone is taking things too far with the gretsch asthetics. it's just making people think the swingster is a gretsch copy, which it is absolutely not. it doesn't feel, or sound like a gretsch. it sounds like an epiphone swingster. the swingster is an amazing guitar on it's own, and it doesn't need the gretsch comparisons to get people to buy it. i hope this is the last of the gretsch finishes for epiphone.

(my girlfriend plays a wildkat, and they're pretty cool too.)

I think the new Swingster would have looked better with a traditional Epiphone Emperor pickguard as used on the Dot Royale and Broadway, even if painted silver. That would have made it appear thet they were saying "this is an Epiphone" as opposed to the perception of it being a G5120 clone.

BTW, the "E" on the pickguard goes back to the days of when Epiphones were made in the Gibson Kalamazoo plant. Just glue it back with superglue.

[polishbroadcast]

Originally Posted by dazzajl

Just to play devils advocate, you could say all current gretsch's are copies of something no longer available. Going back in history, you could also say all gretsch's are fake epiphones. Who were in this market first.

Exactly. And to take that even further you could say every guitar is a copy of, or steals features of, something else. 6120 is an L5, the Jets are Les Pauls, and the 6122's are 335's or Casinos.

The Epiphones look cool and based on the Casino Anniversary that was MIC, these should be top-notch players. I personally would love a Black hollowbody w/ sparkles.

[Scott Fraser]

Originally Posted by Anni_Lover

I think the new Swingster would have looked better with a traditional Epiphone Emperor pickguard as used on the Dot Royale and Broadway, even if painted silver. That would have made it appear thet they were saying "this is an Epiphone" as opposed to the perception of it being a G5120 clone.

My Swingster came with the pickguard uninstalled, & without the screw holes drilled. IMO it looks better with no pickguard, so I won't be drilling into guitar to install the guard.

SF

[fletch]

I own a few Epi guitars. They're fine. The Biscuit, Dobro style is a ripper!

You shouldn't buy a greyhound and compare it to a poodle.
That said... If the poodle PRETENDS TO BE a greyhound, maybe you can!

[BarryMClark]

LOVE the Emperor Regent from Epiphone. I haven't seen a swingster in person and certainly not this one, but it doesn't look bad.

I don't really have the 'rockabilly' tastes in gear though. So... I wouldn't look to me for an opinion. haha.

Edit: just read that the Emperor Regent has been discontinued. That is a real shame.

[Scott Fraser]

Originally Posted by The Squirrel

LOVE the Emperor Regent from Epiphone. I haven't seen a swingster in person and certainly not this one, but it doesn't look bad.
I don't really have the 'rockabilly' tastes in gear though. So... I wouldn't look to me for an opinion. haha.
Edit: just read that the Emperor Regent has been discontinued. That is a real shame.

I too am an Emperor Regent fan. Sorry to hear it's discontinued. I see them several times a year on the LA Craigslist, where I found mine, in the $450 range. For those who don't need a D'Angelico-level jazz guitar it's a hell of a bargain.

SF

[BarryMClark]

Originally Posted by Scott Fraser

I too am an Emperor Regent fan. Sorry to hear it's discontinued. I see them several times a year on the LA Craigslist, where I found mine, in the $450 range. For those who don't need a D'Angelico-level jazz guitar it's a hell of a bargain.

SF

Great, great thump.

[Anni_Lover]

The Broadway is still in production though and still available, as is the Joe Pass Emperor II. If you're really after a fully floating pickup, you'll just have to settle for the G100CE

[rcboals]

Epiphone /Gretsch/Fender China etc. Just more low end psuedo guitars that are almost "the real thing" but not quite really. These are made to satisfy the lust of the bourgeois Once you have had pro-line anything (Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, Taylor, Suhr, etc.etc. etc. you won't want to go back ever. PleeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzEEEEE don't tell me how we can't all afford a pro line Gretsch and those that do are just guitar snobs. That's BULL SHEEET!!! If you really want one you will get one. If you want to satisfy your GAS for a moment you will buy low end then add few $$ at a time upgrade it. No matter how much you spend on upgrades, you will never turn a sows ear into a silk purse, it will still be a sows ear. Save a few measly extra bucks an buy quality the first time. I always buy quality used and I have seen some pretty good pro line deals this last year. I speak from experience several times of buying low end supposed to be really good deal wasting my money on stupid upgrades that cost a 1/3rd of the instrument that add absolutely no value to it. I'm a slow learner but "by jove I think I got it".
FINALLY

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by rcboals

Epiphone /Gretsch/Fender China etc. Just more low end psuedo guitars that are almost "the real thing" but not quite really. These are made to satisfy the lust of the bourgeois Once you have had pro-line anything (Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, Taylor, Suhr, etc.etc. etc. you won't want to go back ever. PleeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzEEEEE don't tell me how we can't all afford a pro line Gretsch and those that do are just guitar snobs. That's BULL SHEEET!!! If you really want one you will get one. If you want to satisfy your GAS for a moment you will buy low end then add few $$ at a time upgrade it. No matter how much you spend on upgrades, you will never turn a sows ear into a silk purse, it will still be a sows ear. Save a few measly extra bucks an buy quality the first time. I always buy quality used and I have seen some pretty good pro line deals this last year. I speak from experience several times of buying low end supposed to be really good deal wasting my money on stupid upgrades that cost a 1/3rd of the instrument that add absolutely no value to it. I'm a slow learner but "by jove I think I got it".
FINALLY

I tend to agree that buying low-end gear usually amounts to a speed bump on the way to buying something from the pro line.

A long time ago I learned that it was usually cheaper to wait, save your shekels and buy the item you really want.

Sent using G-T Forum app

[fletch]

Regarding buying low end guitars, I'm considerably older than some of you blokes, but I remember there being many more crappy guitars around when I was young.
My first electric needed a G-camp to play a barre chord!

I can't believe how good some of the low end guitars are these days. As an example, try a Squire Cv '52 reissue telecaster ($549.00 Aus)

[Billy_Rocker]

I'm a bit older than fletch even and certainly remember that back in the UK in the mid 60's, low end guitars really were awful! Anyone remember the Rosetti's?

Paul McC played one - "truly awful" he says! http://blog.sharemyguitar.com/the-be...setti-solid-7/

[Tony65x55]

Originally Posted by rcboals

Epiphone /Gretsch/Fender China etc. Just more low end psuedo guitars that are almost "the real thing" but not quite really. These are made to satisfy the lust of the bourgeois Once you have had pro-line anything (Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, Taylor, Suhr, etc.etc. etc. you won't want to go back ever. PleeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzEEEEE don't tell me how we can't all afford a pro line Gretsch and those that do are just guitar snobs. That's BULL SHEEET!!! If you really want one you will get one. If you want to satisfy your GAS for a moment you will buy low end then add few $$ at a time upgrade it. No matter how much you spend on upgrades, you will never turn a sows ear into a silk purse, it will still be a sows ear. Save a few measly extra bucks an buy quality the first time. I always buy quality used and I have seen some pretty good pro line deals this last year. I speak from experience several times of buying low end supposed to be really good deal wasting my money on stupid upgrades that cost a 1/3rd of the instrument that add absolutely no value to it. I'm a slow learner but "by jove I think I got it".
FINALLY

For the most part, I agree with you.... but... there is no such thing as a pro-line WildKat. My WildKat, sporting about $200 worth of electronics is a superb musical instrument and I would play it in any venue.

[rcboals]

Originally Posted by fletch

Regarding buying low end guitars, I'm considerably older than some of you blokes, but I remember there being many more crappy guitars around when I was young.
My first electric needed a G-camp to play a barre chord!

I can't believe how good some of the low end guitars are these days. As an example, try a Squire Cv '52 reissue telecaster ($549.00 Aus)

Originally Posted by Billy_Rocker

I'm a bit older than fletch even and certainly remember that back in the UK in the mid 60's, low end guitars really were awful! Anyone remember the Rosetti's?

Paul McC played one - "truly awful" he says! http://blog.sharemyguitar.com/the-be...setti-solid-7/

Low end guitars in the USA were truly awful as well. I'm in there with you guys turned 63 June 8th. True the new low end guitars are certainly not awful compared to the low end crap we had and the new low end work well enough not to discourage a beginner player. My first guitar was a plywood Harmony Stella the action was high enough to cause a nose bleed. It cost me $29.00 without a case in 1958 took a while to save that much back then. In 1959 when my folks knew I was determined to play and serious they bought me a Martin 0017 $125.00 with a chip board case. I still have it no comparison to the Stella of course it was four times the price. Still holds true today $699.00 low end Gretsch or Epi Four times the price gets you a pro-line new. AMAZING

[mike fried]

Originally Posted by rcboals

Epiphone /Gretsch/Fender China etc. Just more low end psuedo guitars that are almost "the real thing" but not quite really. These are made to satisfy the lust of the bourgeois Once you have had pro-line anything (Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, Taylor, Suhr, etc.etc. etc. you won't want to go back ever. PleeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzEEEEE don't tell me how we can't all afford a pro line Gretsch and those that do are just guitar snobs. That's BULL SHEEET!!! If you really want one you will get one. If you want to satisfy your GAS for a moment you will buy low end then add few $$ at a time upgrade it. No matter how much you spend on upgrades, you will never turn a sows ear into a silk purse, it will still be a sows ear. Save a few measly extra bucks an buy quality the first time. I always buy quality used and I have seen some pretty good pro line deals this last year. I speak from experience several times of buying low end supposed to be really good deal wasting my money on stupid upgrades that cost a 1/3rd of the instrument that add absolutely no value to it. I'm a slow learner but "by jove I think I got it".
FINALLY

Hmmm, I've been playing for 45+ years (pro for 20+) and own or have owned virtually every "pro-line" guitar mentioned here (and others), vintage and modern, in multiples, and I have and will continue to "go back" to Epiphones, Electromatics, and their "ilk" when I find a great instrument there. Such blanket generalizations about "pseudo guitars" are not only inaccurate, but do a disservice to those who REALLY can't afford to plunk down three grand on a guitar but (if they don't know themselves) know someone who can evaluate an instrument on its actual merits before they buy. Never in the history of guitar have such excellent new instruments been available for so little money, and just because you've not been satisfied with your experiences doesn't entitle you to badmouth an entire category of the market and discourage the less well-healed. (Real lesson: don't buy an instrument that you need to "upgrade", want it for what it is!) To a lot of people, three grand or more is a lot more than "a few measly bucks"...

[Tony65x55]

Originally Posted by mike fried

(Real lesson: don't buy an instrument that you need to "upgrade", want it for what it is!) To a lot of people, three grand or more is a lot more than "a few measly bucks"...

Yes but for some of us, we take a lot of enjoyment in taking an instrument like an Epi and turning the sow's ear into a silk purse. Epi's share a similar quality with Gretsch Electro's where you have a pretty good musical instrument with lousy guts. Both my Epi Dot and my WildKat are very good playing, decently assembled guitars and for both, the inclusion of a pair of Jon Moore's handwound pickups and some CTS pots made them both sound superb.

I did that and now they are uniquely mine and I enjoyed every minute of it. I gig with them and they sound and play as good as a current Gibson. In truth though, the Gibson finish is nicer but they have to give you something for another $1500. I had the opportunity to play a new ES-335 back to back against my Dot and indeed, it was nicer. About $100 nicer except the Moore pickups in the Dot sounded better!

[calvin lee]

i find that i like epiphone and squier better than gibson and fender. they take more risks, and release new cool ideas, not just the same old thing over and over with slight variations, like their parent companies. the same is true for gretsch, but to a much lesser extent.

i dont want to put the wrong vibe out there though. i love epiphone and other bang for your buck type guitars. but every gretsch i've played has been an awesome guitar, and they are one of the best modern guitar manufacturers around today.