Shooting out the Epiphone vs Gibson 339 tonight

The other is that the pickups in the Epiphone sound like there is a pillow in front of the guitar...no midrange to be found.
Click to expand...

For years, I've been consistently unimpressed with the majority of Epi electronics on their instruments. I know they are probably trying to maximize profit at the price point but would it kill them to upgrade in that area? Poo-buckers aren't acceptable these days.
 
Lerxst said:
For years, I've been consistently unimpressed with the majority of Epi electronics on their instruments. I know they are probably trying to maximize profit at the price point but would it kill them to upgrade in that area? Poo-buckers aren't acceptable these days.
Click to expand...

or, are they more acceptable than ever before given the wide range of replacements that are customizable to the individual player?
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
or, are they more acceptable than ever before given the wide range of replacements that are customizable to the individual player?
Click to expand...

I don't think so...unless you consider Epis so low end that is sold as a compromise, where that's acceptable (like when a-g-i-l-e-s first broke out). I know everyone loves a car analogy; that's like saying it's ok for an affordable sports car to come w/ 4 bald tires because there is a wide range of replacements that are customizable to the individual driver. IMO they should come from the factory with decently acceptable electronics and most of their stock buckers I've played aren't in that category.
 
Last edited:
Lerxst said:
I don't think so...unless you consider Epis so low end that is sold as a compromise, where that's acceptable (like when a-g-i-l-e-s first broke out). I know everyone loves a car analogy; that's like saying it's ok for an affordable sports car to come w/ 4 bald tires because there is a wide range of replacements that are customizable to the individual driver. IMO they should come from the factory with decently acceptable electronics and most of their stock buckers I've played aren't in that category.
Click to expand...

i think it's a trend among all guitar manufacturers. "well, they're just going to replace the electronics anyway, so throw some cheap shit in there." it's the only reasonable explanation for the 25 year run of Ibanez V series pickups.
 
Lerxst said:
I don't think so...unless you consider Epis so low end that is sold as a compromise, where that's acceptable (like when a-g-i-l-e-s first broke out). I know everyone loves a car analogy; that's like saying it's ok for an affordable sports car to come w/ 4 bald tires because there is a wide range of replacements that are customizable to the individual driver. IMO they should come from the factory with decently acceptable electronics and most of their stock buckers I've played aren't in that category.
Click to expand...


The Probuckers sound pretty good. I'm not sure what happened to those, as they were originally using them in all the "pro" models but it seems like they fell away from the 339.
I tried some in an LP traditional pro with korina body. Those sounded killer.
The swingbucker sounds good, too.
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
i think it's a trend among all guitar manufacturers. "well, they're just going to replace the electronics anyway, so throw some cheap shit in there." it's the only reasonable explanation for the 25 year run of Ibanez V series pickups.
Click to expand...

the average newbie player who doesn't frequent guitar forums doesn't think that way though. at ;east not among my students.
 
Mark Wein said:
the average newbie player who doesn't frequent guitar forums doesn't think that way though. at ;east not among my students.
Click to expand...

my students wouldn't know what a replacement pickup was if it hit them in the head.

of course, i have another explanation for the phenomenon. put shitty pickups in decently built but low end instruments. this will make the uninformed spend significantly more on higher end instruments, thus increasing profit margins. they may still sound shitty, but hey, they got the right brand. its supposed to sound like that! it's the only sound that's GOOD ENOUGH!
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
my students wouldn't know what a replacement pickup was if it hit them in the head.

of course, i have another explanation for the phenomenon. put shitty pickups in decently built but low end instruments. this will make the uninformed spend significantly more on higher end instruments, thus increasing profit margins. they may still sound shitty, but hey, they got the right brand. its supposed to sound like that! it's the only sound that's GOOD ENOUGH!
Click to expand...


I guess. I'm just not a fan of the concept.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top