Epiphone Club

[EdO.]

This is cool! More players wanting Epiphone Club numbers.

Let's get real here, Epiphone builds some really quality instruments, period. Watching The Voice i.e. I see their bass player (don't know his name) sometimes playing an Epi semi-hollow body, not sure what model. I frequently see different artists playing Epi guitars on various TV shows. They're out there. I'm personally very proud of my Epi T-Birds and gig them regularly. Bang-for-the-buck wise IMO they're one of the best values on the market today.

A lot of folks make a big deal about 80's Japanese basses being great instruments and great values, which I tend to agree with. IMO this is the same thing - we're living in a moment of relatively inexpensive Epi instruments that in the future are going to be looked back at in the same light. Buy in now while they're still great values, like the Matsumoku basses i.e. they'll be collectibles worth a lot more 10 -20 years from now.

 

[hillerup]

NBD today!

Just taken delivery of this bad boy:

Looks perfect in any way with an impeccable finish and fairly good intonation out of the box.

Neck is amazingly narrow and thin (front to back) - kinda like a mid 70's Rickenbacker 4001.

This is going to be a fun bass!

Can't believe these basses are so cheap - Bought the bass brand new from Thomann for € 279,- ($ 311,-) with free shipping from Germany to Denmark.

Got the case a month ago 2nd hand in mint condition for only € 23 ($ 26) - A total steal as they are usually almost 4 times the price new.

 

[Nocturnal]

Congrats on the new bass Michael!!!

 

[hillerup]

Congrats on the new bass Michael!!!

Thanks, Andy!

 

[Christine]

NBD today!

Just taken delivery of this bad boy:

View attachment 953996

Looks perfect in any way with an impeccable finish and fairly good intonation out of the box.

Neck is amazingly narrow and thin (front to back) - kinda like a mid 70's Rickenbacker 4001.

This is going to be a fun bass!

Can't believe these basses are so cheap - Bought the bass brand new from Thomann for € 279,- ($ 311,-) with free shipping from Germany to Denmark.

Got the case a month ago 2nd hand in mint condition for only € 23 ($ 26) - A total steal as they are usually almost 4 times the price new.

I'm jealous, very nice mate

 

[hillerup]

I'm jealous, very nice mate

Thanks!

 

[godofthunder59]

NBD today!

Just taken delivery of this bad boy:

View attachment 953996

Looks perfect in any way with an impeccable finish and fairly good intonation out of the box.

Neck is amazingly narrow and thin (front to back) - kinda like a mid 70's Rickenbacker 4001.

This is going to be a fun bass!

Can't believe these basses are so cheap - Bought the bass brand new from Thomann for € 279,- ($ 311,-) with free shipping from Germany to Denmark.

Got the case a month ago 2nd hand in mint condition for only € 23 ($ 26) - A total steal as they are usually almost 4 times the price new.

I like Epis version of the EB3 quite a bit. I most times stick a 60's or 70's mudbucker in the neck. Congratulations!

 

[hillerup]

I like Epis version of the EB3 quite a bit. I most times stick a 60's or 70's mudbucker in the neck. Congratulations!

I know... I wish I had known when you sold the Alpine White one a while back...

 

[godofthunder59]

NBD here as well! Epi Classic Pro Thunderbird IV, really nice grain on this one. Going to chrome it out of course.

 

[Christine]

Let's get real here, Epiphone builds some really quality instruments, period. Watching The Voice i.e. I see their bass player (don't know his name) sometimes playing an Epi semi-hollow body, not sure what model. I frequently see different artists playing Epi guitars on various TV shows. They're out there. I'm personally very proud of my Epi T-Birds and gig them regularly. Bang-for-the-buck wise IMO they're one of the best values on the market today.

A lot of folks make a big deal about 80's Japanese basses being great instruments and great values, which I tend to agree with. IMO this is the same thing - we're living in a moment of relatively inexpensive Epi instruments that in the future are going to be looked back at in the same light. Buy in now while they're still great values, like the Matsumoku basses i.e. they'll be collectibles worth a lot more 10 -20 years from now.

Unfortunately there is a difference in the eyes of many between a great guitar and a great name. Whilst Epiphone were a great name in the past they are to many a second rate Gibson copy brand now irrespective of the fact that they make a top rate guitar as good if not better than some that came out of the Gibson factory. How long they stay cheap guitars is another thing, once people catch on to how good they are demand will grow which will mean only one thing, a price increase; once the price goes up those that doubted will want one and the name will be great again. Buy them now while they are still cheap!

 

[hillerup]

Wow! Looking good! Congrats man. My EB-3 should be in tomorrow. You did great on the case as well. The case does usually sell for just under $100. new. I hope my setup looks as good as yours does.

I'm sure it will...

 

[hillerup]

My EB-3 showed up today, and, WOOOOW! What a BASS! I've had 4003 Jetglo Ricks that weren't finished as well as this EB-3 Ebony. I strung it with D'Addario ETB92 Nylons. The craftsmanship on this Epi is Fantastic. The frets are dressed as a well made bass should be. The sounds are great too.

Yep, I had the same reaction as you when I unboxed it...

The frets and finish is perfect on mine too...

Looking forward to try it out in a band context.

 

[Chrome Dome]

Ah yes numbers! Sorry guys I've been pretty busy recently. Let's see:

#201 - Chrome Dome (nice bass!)
#202 - godofthunder95
#203 - gsgbass (somehow I remember you, but I can't find my list )

Welcome!

Thank you,Silver Blues,and the comment,on the bass. I love it,first one for me.

 

[godofthunder59]

Chrome update

 

[Christine]

My EB-3 showed up today, and, WOOOOW! What a BASS! I've had 4003 Jetglo Ricks that weren't finished as well as this EB-3 Ebony. I strung it with D'Addario ETB92 Nylons. The craftsmanship on this Epi is Fantastic. The frets are dressed as a well made bass should be. The sounds are great too.

Looks spot on, what gets me big time is the price, from Thomman where @hillerup got his it's £229 sterling??? How the hell do they do it? That is as cheap as it comes for a bass of any quality.

I know what the wife will be buying me for Christmas

 

[hillerup]

Looks spot on, what gets me big time is the price, from Thomman where @hillerup got his it's £229 sterling??? How the hell do they do it? That is as cheap as it comes for a bass of any quality.

I know what the wife will be buying me for Christmas

Thomann buys in big quantities directly from the source and therefore gets great deals. Also they don't rely on distributors, as they have their own warehouse and shipment department. On top of this, shipping from Germany is very very cheap....

 

[Christine]

Thomann buys in big quantities directly from the source and therefore gets great deals. Also they don't rely on distributors, as they have their own warehouse and shipment department. On top of this, shipping from Germany is very very cheap....

But they still have to buy it from Epiphone and make a profit for themselves. No matter what the sell it for, the cost of manufacture is more or less a constant and if Epiphone want to stay in business then that will be less than they sell it to Thomann irrespective of how many they buy. So in context a guitar that rivals the quality of Gibson is made with at least two lumps of profit and sold for just over £200 sterling. See the quote bekow

Buy them now while they are still cheap!

 

[RedVee]

But they still have to buy it from Epiphone and make a profit for themselves. No matter what the sell it for, the cost of manufacture is more or less a constant and if Epiphone want to stay in business then that will be less than they sell it to Thomann irrespective of how many they buy. So in context a guitar that rivals the quality of Gibson is made with at least two lumps of profit and sold for just over £200 sterling. See the quote bekow

So that begs the question: what is the profit margin on a Gibby then ?

 

[Christine]

So that begs the question: what is the profit margin on a Gibby then ?

I couldn't guess!

I know the labour cost in Indonesia is a lot lower than the states and there must be a lot more done with CNC (even those have a huge capital cost) but you still got to buy the parts: Lumps of wood, shape, glue, carve, sand, seal/fill and paint. I imagine that's where the bulk of the cost is, the hardware will outsourced from a similar outfit at low cost but still a cost. then it need packaging and shipping to the end user, the costs are all adding up

 

[hillerup]

But they still have to buy it from Epiphone and make a profit for themselves. No matter what the sell it for, the cost of manufacture is more or less a constant and if Epiphone want to stay in business then that will be less than they sell it to Thomann irrespective of how many they buy. So in context a guitar that rivals the quality of Gibson is made with at least two lumps of profit and sold for just over £200 sterling. See the quote bekow

So that begs the question: what is the profit margin on a Gibby then ?

I couldn't guess!

I know the labour cost in Indonesia is a lot lower than the states and there must be a lot more done with CNC (even those have a huge capital cost) but you still got to buy the parts: Lumps of wood, shape, glue, carve, sand, seal/fill and paint. I imagine that's where the bulk of the cost is, the hardware will outsourced from a similar outfit at low cost but still a cost. then it need packaging and shipping to the end user, the costs are all adding up

Well, what can I say... Whatever the cost and profits are, Thomann and Music Store (another German online company) are a great source for aquiring premium gear at low cost - I use both all the time, but mostly Thomann. Both have identical prices (more or less), free shipping, 30 day returns and extended guarantees on their stuff - What's not to like...

Also been to the Thomann shop a couple of times, and their customer service is second to none - Ask for a guitar/bass which is not on display in the showroom, they will get it from the warehouse right away, unbox it and tune it for you so you can try it out.