[epearson]

I'm looking into buying an Epi Chet solid body at some point. There is a HUGE price gap between it and it's Gibson brother. The Epi is 400 and the Gibson is almost 2000 dollars. The obvious construction difference is that the Epi is laminate spruce and mahogany and the pickup may not be as good. But I've heard people who owned the Gibson and said the Epi was better (clearer and better response), and I was wondering if maybe the laminate woods were better for a solid body acoustic/electric, any info? What I was hoping to do was purchase the Epi and then replace the stock PU with a Fishman Natural 1, but I wanna learn more about solid bodies first. I guess my question is mostly "Is solid wood necessary for a solid body acoustic electric?" thanks

[billy16]

I would try out each one first. But with a $1600 price gap, maybe replacing the pickup would be much cheaper.

I'm sure the density of the wood has to do something with the sound.

In answer to your question, I don't think a solid wood is necessarily necessary for a solid body acoustic/electric.

Excuse the bad grammar in there.

[epearson]

Well, I was thinking that in theory the denser wood might be more effective at preventing feedback and would probably distort less. Not to mention the sound of that guitar I think would be more pickup based, but I could be wrong.

*waits for Dadfad*

[billy16]

With a heavier wood, the sustain should be longer because the thinkness of the wood will cause the sound waves to reverberate more than a thin wood.

Maybe.

[wannalearn01]

I would stay way from any Epiphone that isn't in the "Masterbuilt" group(they are not half-assed copies, but originals..."top of the line" of Epiphone)

See when they make cheaper copies, what they are really doing is taking the parts that get rejected for the Gibson's( Not "Gibson" quality, prolly a set of specs), and they are put on the Epiphone's. Which is cool b.c you are getting almost gibson parts for 1/4th of the price, BUT and a big BUT, you are also taking a HUGE chance that it might go further out of spec and not play as well.

What I would suggest is saving 200 more and really getting something kicking. If your looking for full-body acoustic/electrics, takamine has A LOT of very very quality guitars. *EDIT* Alverez's are also very good, they have some that are thinner(depth) that sounnd good...and are about 450-500*

Thats only my opinion, but I own a 350 dollar Epiphone...check sig, and it has some terrible action, the 13th fret on the little E is is flat, and one of the tuners feels stripped...after one year..I play a lot but not that much

It is a classic looking guitar though, always play a guitar and then a couple others and go back the next day, if it takes top honors two days straight, get it...it'll feel right!

T^roy

This post has been edited by wannalearn01: 03 March 2005 - 05:38 PM

[epearson]

Well, I know Takamine (especially the EC132SC) is a great acoustic/electric company, but I'm seeking a nylon string that can cut through a church band with 2 electric guitars and also for occassional gig use. My current classical is acoustic electric but doesn't have the output that the Chet does, the Chet is LOUD. I've read mostly favorable reviews of it and there aren't too many other companies that sell a solid body acoustic electric at a good price.

[dadfad]

I didn't respond to this earlier because I've never played the Epi Chet, although I'm pretty familiar with the Gibson and have played several (actually bought one once, but the owner changed his mind a week or two later and I let him have it back). So I hate to act too "authoritative" about a guitar I've never played.

It IS very possible that as an electro-acoustic a less-resonant construction will sound superior to the more resonant one when using the electronics. A good acoustic-system only needs the acoustic properties to "kick it off" electronically (generally speaking), after which point resonant overtones might get in the way (or at least become superflous).

The price difference includes other factors than just tone-woods too (durability issues, hardware, etc). But $1600 is a very large difference. In a worst-case scenario the Epi could be replaced three times and still be less than the $2000 Gibson, so the durability-factor comparison is probably a moot issue. If possible, play both (obviously); if the Epi feels as good and sounds as good or even just comes close to sounding as good as the Gibson, get the Epi (the feel and playability as the major consideration). The Epi might even sound better, as mentioned, and you plan electronics-upgrades anyway. While I'm normally a Gibson-guy through and though, in this situation where electronics are as important (if not more so) than natural tone, I lean toward the Epi as being the better value.

[epearson]

Thanks man, I appreciate your info. I kinda thought that myself, that in this case, the electronics are by far more important than the body. Plus, while Gibson is great, the price of Gibson model is ridiculous. I heard some say the Epi sounded better, and I can kinda believe this as musicians I've heard with the Gibson (cedar topped model especially) tend to get really muddy sounding. Unfortunately I haven't found a shop that carries either models (not too many stores carry Gibson anyway, I heard they're difficult to deal with) so if I get around to buying the Epi it'll be based on faith, which has worked for me before.

[epearson]

Yeah, that's possible. I had heard from a dealer that Gibson is difficult because they require you to carry 36 of their products and they pick 20 of them or something. Plus I live in Missouri so they're typically too expensive for Mom and Pop shops to carry.