Epiphone FT-110

[BJG145]

OK, I'm confused.

I used to regard Epiphone as a cheaper alternative for ordinary people who couldn't afford Gibson guitars. Then I became aware of players like Gary Clark Jr who played them by choice, and I realised that Epiphone used to be a quality brand, before it became known as a cheaper brand. Then reviews started saying that Epiphone guitars were actually very good now, and there are nice signature models like the Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth.

But I wasn't expecting this.

https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPIMMI2 ... tier-Burst

A new Epiphone, looking like a Hummingbird without the hummingbird, priced at $3,999.

What's going on? At this rate Epiphone will be the new PRS...the hacks at the local Blues jam will look down on them because they're too classy.

[Drew Stephenson]

I have long given up attempting to understand any part of Gibson's strategy!

[BJG145]

I'm quite happy about it really. With the product line expanding to include models like the $2,699 Epiphone Casino (described in the review I'm browsing as a Gibson ES-330 with an Epiphone badge), it'll surely increase the cachet of cheaper and very playable models like the Inspired by Gibson range. Or at least blur the lines a bit.

[Wonks]

It’s a new USA made reissue of a US made Epiphone.

The nicest acoustic I ever heard was a 1960s Epiphone acoustic someone was playing in Vintage and Rare in London (a few years ago now). Jaw droppingly lovely.

Yes it is confusing, and the differences between the old Epiphones and the equivalent Gibson models were often only minor and cosmetic, so it must have been even more confusing back in the day.

Those 60s Epiphone acoustics were part of Gibson’s heritage, so good for them for making a few decent new versions of them.

[Funkyflash5]

Prior to 1970, Epiphones were made side by side with Gibsons with the sort of model to model differences that you might equally see within a single brand(ie different bridge styles, different pickup options, ect). The Mini Humbucker for example was an Epiphone thing before they were bought by Gibson, and then was swapped into p90 routed Gibsons with the adapter ring after the merger. It wasn't until 83 that Epi became the budget brand to Gibson the way Squire is to Fender, and in recent years it looks like the stigma of playing a budget brand has lessened to the point where blurring that line has less downside.

[tea for two]

I find myself collecting interesting string instruments these days.
I have a Bolivian 2 string Guitar like Harp kind of like an Appalachian Dulcimer just a lot narrower more ornate, African Kora, Chinese Erhu, Japanese Taishōgoto, Diddleybow.
I will probably add a Chinese Pipa or Liuqin or Korean Bipa, Turkish Kemenche or Saz.

Well that classic 1960s Epiphone acoustic is approx 3k-4k.
So it shall remain ear eye candy lol.