Post by futureman on Nov 17, 2017 18:09:00 GMT
lespaul1968
FYI- re: "Ordered several days ago, still not shipped"
I build guitars & after hearing ALL the hype...(YouTube & elsewhere)...I just HAD to see for myself, if the instruments ACTUALLY measure up to Epiphone quality, etc. So, I ordered a "450 Classic" (I believe is the name, do not have guitar in front of me currently)
I chose the "Classic" due to it's traditional construction method/materials...i.e. Mahogany body/neck w/maple cap,& a veneer top, etc. The "plus-top" model LOOKS great, (&probably plays just fine)...but, the body is basswood.
I ordered a 450 classic from Thomann approx 3 weeks ago, cost was approx $157 + $30/shipping. The guitar showed up at my front door exactly 9 days later (Tallahassee, Florida, usa)...It was still 90% in tune...action was decent, fret-work very good.
If I were currently employed at Gibson USA, as a Luthier/builder/finisher/whatever? I would be VERY AFRAID for my lively-hood.
After setting up the guitar & slapping-on a new set of D`addario 10's as I like it, & spending a solid week playing this guitar? I would NOT say,
"It is JUST as good as an Epiphone-LP std."
I would say,
"SCREW Epiphone! This thing plays JUST as good as my GIBSON L.P. Std!"
Now, obviously, SOMETHING somewhere HAS to give...& it does, in the usual places...hardware/pots/fit/finish details are not "custom-handmade" quality...but nowhere NEAR as crappy as, say, a Squier Bullet series, or even Affinity series.
So, the fit/finish is not 100% up to Gibson's standards...(when Gibson QC is working properly! I HAVE seen new Gibson's w/issues too)... but, those are all (relatively) cheap/easy to swap-out....The expensive parts are ALL THERE...joinery work is first-class, even the hardware is Wilkinson's (imported Chinese, but.?.. still...it's decent quality stuff). I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually LIKE the P'ups, I will change them out eventually, I am sure...but, these are pretty-damn good...ESPECIALLY when looking at cost/benefit. When I am puttering around in my shop, I will walk past the stands of guitars a t various sts ges of completion...& SEE this H. B. LP sitting there...I STILL have to stop & shake my head in amazement...HOW?!? How can Thomann DO this?!
If I were in a music store & picked up this BEAUTIFUL cherry-burst L.P. clone- w/out a price-tag on it? Even knowing as much as I know about what goes into building a guitar like this? My best-guess at the price would be...WELL North of $500...& If someone told me it sold for $1k...I would believe them (at least until I did some investigation, opening covers, examining tuners closely, etc).
Long-story short? (Too late, I know)
Do NOT HESITATE to buy one.... I plan on ordering at least 5 or 6 more...At least one each of the following clones.
ES-335; Gretsch; PRS SE custom22 & 24; SG; maybe more that I am forgetting...The parts alone are worth the total price of their finished guitars.
I want the ES-335/Gretsch because...
#1_ I don't build hollow/semi-hollow guitars,
#2_ & even if I did? I could not purchase all the raw MATERIALS for what Thomann sells their guitars for...at retail price!
Do NOT pass GO...
Do NOT collect $200...
(use it to buy a 450-classic instead!)
Do NOT HESITATE...
They really ARE "too-good to be true"...
I keep waiting for someone to figure it out, & STOP selling them, at least for THIS pittance!
PS...I am NOT affiliated w/Thomann in any way, at ALL...Other than the fact that I am NOW a HUGE fan!
FYI- re: "Ordered several days ago, still not shipped"
I build guitars & after hearing ALL the hype...(YouTube & elsewhere)...I just HAD to see for myself, if the instruments ACTUALLY measure up to Epiphone quality, etc. So, I ordered a "450 Classic" (I believe is the name, do not have guitar in front of me currently)
I chose the "Classic" due to it's traditional construction method/materials...i.e. Mahogany body/neck w/maple cap,& a veneer top, etc. The "plus-top" model LOOKS great, (&probably plays just fine)...but, the body is basswood.
I ordered a 450 classic from Thomann approx 3 weeks ago, cost was approx $157 + $30/shipping. The guitar showed up at my front door exactly 9 days later (Tallahassee, Florida, usa)...It was still 90% in tune...action was decent, fret-work very good.
If I were currently employed at Gibson USA, as a Luthier/builder/finisher/whatever? I would be VERY AFRAID for my lively-hood.
After setting up the guitar & slapping-on a new set of D`addario 10's as I like it, & spending a solid week playing this guitar? I would NOT say,
"It is JUST as good as an Epiphone-LP std."
I would say,
"SCREW Epiphone! This thing plays JUST as good as my GIBSON L.P. Std!"
Now, obviously, SOMETHING somewhere HAS to give...& it does, in the usual places...hardware/pots/fit/finish details are not "custom-handmade" quality...but nowhere NEAR as crappy as, say, a Squier Bullet series, or even Affinity series.
So, the fit/finish is not 100% up to Gibson's standards...(when Gibson QC is working properly! I HAVE seen new Gibson's w/issues too)... but, those are all (relatively) cheap/easy to swap-out....The expensive parts are ALL THERE...joinery work is first-class, even the hardware is Wilkinson's (imported Chinese, but.?.. still...it's decent quality stuff). I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually LIKE the P'ups, I will change them out eventually, I am sure...but, these are pretty-damn good...ESPECIALLY when looking at cost/benefit. When I am puttering around in my shop, I will walk past the stands of guitars a t various sts ges of completion...& SEE this H. B. LP sitting there...I STILL have to stop & shake my head in amazement...HOW?!? How can Thomann DO this?!
If I were in a music store & picked up this BEAUTIFUL cherry-burst L.P. clone- w/out a price-tag on it? Even knowing as much as I know about what goes into building a guitar like this? My best-guess at the price would be...WELL North of $500...& If someone told me it sold for $1k...I would believe them (at least until I did some investigation, opening covers, examining tuners closely, etc).
Long-story short? (Too late, I know)
Do NOT HESITATE to buy one.... I plan on ordering at least 5 or 6 more...At least one each of the following clones.
ES-335; Gretsch; PRS SE custom22 & 24; SG; maybe more that I am forgetting...The parts alone are worth the total price of their finished guitars.
I want the ES-335/Gretsch because...
#1_ I don't build hollow/semi-hollow guitars,
#2_ & even if I did? I could not purchase all the raw MATERIALS for what Thomann sells their guitars for...at retail price!
Do NOT pass GO...
Do NOT collect $200...
(use it to buy a 450-classic instead!)
Do NOT HESITATE...
They really ARE "too-good to be true"...
I keep waiting for someone to figure it out, & STOP selling them, at least for THIS pittance!
PS...I am NOT affiliated w/Thomann in any way, at ALL...Other than the fact that I am NOW a HUGE fan!