Yes it was. What im saying is the description does not describe a melody maker, it seems like it could just be a name they're giving to low budget SG/LP/Flying V/ explorer models. But the melody maker, as well as being a budget student guitar, was also a seperate model with unique features - single coils. They should still be like that.Ankhanu wrote:Wasn't the Melody Maker a budget instrument from the start?DanHeron wrote:Oh no, i know they are going to be poor quality. But I mean, I hope its actually a new model and they're not just using the melody maker name for a new 'budget' line or whatever.
NEW Gibson SG Melody Maker PICS page 3
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- endsjustifymeans
- Grown Up Punk
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£450 is cheap for a Gibson. It's not cheap for the quality will probably be. The fact that it's the bottom of a line that includes mostly things in the thousands doesn't mean it's any good at all.
Here are a few things that will almost certainly destroy it for a similar sort of price (some secondhand)
- Any of the MIJ Squier Vista series guitars
- A quality late 70s/early 80s Les Paul by Burny/Greco etc.
- Baja Telecaster
- Epiphone Casino
- Gordon Smith of your choice
- Squier CV range
- About 300 other guitars
£450 gets you into deep into 'serious guitar' territory, and a low end Gibson doesn't come close to that.
Here are a few things that will almost certainly destroy it for a similar sort of price (some secondhand)
- Any of the MIJ Squier Vista series guitars
- A quality late 70s/early 80s Les Paul by Burny/Greco etc.
- Baja Telecaster
- Epiphone Casino
- Gordon Smith of your choice
- Squier CV range
- About 300 other guitars
£450 gets you into deep into 'serious guitar' territory, and a low end Gibson doesn't come close to that.
Shabba.
- damienblair17
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The G-400 (SG)plaidbeer wrote:What Epis would you guys consider to be the equivalent price-wise and quality-wise to the Classic Vibes? I've rarely read good things about the lower-end Epiphones.
The Firebird if you're into that kinda thing
Thunderbird bass (all of 'em)
If you can find 'em, any of the goth series (SG, LP, t-bird, V, Explorer)
Agreed. The only epiphones that I really just don't like are their low end models like the LP jr's, sg 310 or jr, whatever the entry level sg is, and all the guitars in the $99-$200 or $300 range. After that most of the epiphones I've played are really nice. I'd buy an Epi LP standard or a SG 400 before I'd buy any of the low end gibsons in the $500 to $1000 range.Fran wrote:Dont know about the V's and stuff but the Les Paul Customs and hollow bodys (Sheraton and Casino especially) are the best i've played. The SG 400 is a good Punker and my friend has a limited edition SG with a flashy finish, Duncans etc which is nice.
- Fran
- The Curmudgeon
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I found the SG 400 pups a bit microphonic but other than that i preferred it over an 80s Gibson SG Special i had.Billy3000 wrote:Agreed. The only epiphones that I really just don't like are their low end models like the LP jr's, sg 310 or jr, whatever the entry level sg is, and all the guitars in the $99-$200 or $300 range. After that most of the epiphones I've played are really nice. I'd buy an Epi LP standard or a SG 400 before I'd buy any of the low end gibsons in the $500 to $1000 range.Fran wrote:Dont know about the V's and stuff but the Les Paul Customs and hollow bodys (Sheraton and Casino especially) are the best i've played. The SG 400 is a good Punker and my friend has a limited edition SG with a flashy finish, Duncans etc which is nice.
Some people here like the low end stuff but i find it really poor to be honest, talking new i think you've got to be paying around £300+ for a decent Epiphone. Still does'nt make much sense to me though when you can get a second hand 80's Yamaha SG 200 for just under £200 that will give any Gibson SG a run for its money.
When I was looking to buy my first guitar last summer, I tried out the G400. It was one of the most comfortable guitars I played and for a while I was really considering it. But every G400 sounded like it was muffled no matter how much I adjusted the tone pot. Are they just always going to sound that dark no matter what? Is that just their general tone?
Yea the only thing I don't like about them is the pickups. But I've played a bunch of epiphones that my friends have swapped the pickups to gibson pickups and they sound every bit as good as the real deal! The singer in my old band had an Epi LP standard with burstbucker 2's in it, and I actually thought it sounded better than his Gibson standard LP double cut with the same pickups.Fran wrote:I found the SG 400 pups a bit microphonic but other than that i preferred it over an 80s Gibson SG Special i had.Billy3000 wrote:Agreed. The only epiphones that I really just don't like are their low end models like the LP jr's, sg 310 or jr, whatever the entry level sg is, and all the guitars in the $99-$200 or $300 range. After that most of the epiphones I've played are really nice. I'd buy an Epi LP standard or a SG 400 before I'd buy any of the low end gibsons in the $500 to $1000 range.Fran wrote:Dont know about the V's and stuff but the Les Paul Customs and hollow bodys (Sheraton and Casino especially) are the best i've played. The SG 400 is a good Punker and my friend has a limited edition SG with a flashy finish, Duncans etc which is nice.
Some people here like the low end stuff but i find it really poor to be honest, talking new i think you've got to be paying around £300+ for a decent Epiphone. Still does'nt make much sense to me though when you can get a second hand 80's Yamaha SG 200 for just under £200 that will give any Gibson SG a run for its money.
- damienblair17
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Yeah, they're pretty dark sounding. A cheap pickup swap does wonders, but that is an extra step plus extra cash.plaidbeer wrote:When I was looking to buy my first guitar last summer, I tried out the G400. It was one of the most comfortable guitars I played and for a while I was really considering it. But every G400 sounded like it was muffled no matter how much I adjusted the tone pot. Are they just always going to sound that dark no matter what? Is that just their general tone?
You still come out way ahead of the low end Gibson SG fadeds though! An Epi SG400 with new pickups will sound and look better than the crappy faded series.damienblair17 wrote:Yeah, they're pretty dark sounding. A cheap pickup swap does wonders, but that is an extra step plus extra cash.plaidbeer wrote:When I was looking to buy my first guitar last summer, I tried out the G400. It was one of the most comfortable guitars I played and for a while I was really considering it. But every G400 sounded like it was muffled no matter how much I adjusted the tone pot. Are they just always going to sound that dark no matter what? Is that just their general tone?
plaidbeer wrote:When I was looking to buy my first guitar last summer, I tried out the G400. It was one of the most comfortable guitars I played and for a while I was really considering it. But every G400 sounded like it was muffled no matter how much I adjusted the tone pot. Are they just always going to sound that dark no matter what? Is that just their general tone?
Dude get a G400 and gut it, redo the Electronics and get a professional set up.... These go for $225 used all day.... I have a G400 LE and a Gibson SG and the both play very nice, I love them, obviously.... the Epi is not as good and here is why..
-The wood is not as heavy, the Gibson feels more substantial...
-the hardware is cheaper, the bridge has some tiny vibration/rattle...
-frets have no where near the quality work of the Gibson
-and obviously electronics are in a different league
With alittle work thou and $350 bux u can have a very nice SG.... I would not hesitate to buy the G400... very good axe for the money.... They are way better than the Gibby Faded SG after the electronic swap....
They do sound darker as that is a Gibson Style guitar made out of mahogany with more middy pick ups, but u can buy what ever pick-ups u like to change that a bit...
Check out what I did....
http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39110
lorez wrote: I'm a fuzz lover so my clean is another man's crunch
Thanks for the low-down on the G400. I might get one down the road, but I've been eying a Gretsch G5122DC for a while. Want a hollowbody.SGJarrod wrote:plaidbeer wrote:When I was looking to buy my first guitar last summer, I tried out the G400. It was one of the most comfortable guitars I played and for a while I was really considering it. But every G400 sounded like it was muffled no matter how much I adjusted the tone pot. Are they just always going to sound that dark no matter what? Is that just their general tone?
Dude get a G400 and gut it, redo the Electronics and get a professional set up.... These go for $225 used all day.... I have a G400 LE and a Gibson SG and the both play very nice, I love them, obviously.... the Epi is not as good and here is why..
-The wood is not as heavy, the Gibson feels more substantial...
-the hardware is cheaper, the bridge has some tiny vibration/rattle...
-frets have no where near the quality work of the Gibson
-and obviously electronics are in a different league
With alittle work thou and $350 bux u can have a very nice SG.... I would not hesitate to buy the G400... very good axe for the money.... They are way better than the Gibby Faded SG after the electronic swap....
They do sound darker as that is a Gibson Style guitar made out of mahogany with more middy pick ups, but u can buy what ever pick-ups u like to change that a bit...
Check out what I did....
http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39110