I think this is the first time I've seen it below list price brand new. Looks like the price might be the new de facto list (sale goes through 1/1/2026)
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I think this is the first time I've seen it below list price brand new. Looks like the price might be the new de facto list (sale goes through 1/1/2026)
I found and bought one of these DG-335s with all of the things I look for, light at 7lb 14 oz, lots of sparkle in the finish, mostly dark but streaky fingerboard. Sad that they used laurel instead of rosewood, but the MOP inlays plus the wood they used looks pretty high quality, so it makes that less bad, as aside from the lower quality woods used in the nonIGC Epis, imho the acrylic in my other older Epis looks cheap.
I appreciate the IGC's trends of using the open book headstock, real MOP, Gibson USA(burst buckers in this Grohl guitar) or Custom Shop pickups, etc. I also recently got the Epi 1959 ES-355 (red) that also has all of the IGC upgrades (and CustomBuckers which are VERY NICE) for 1170 from Sweetwater used, and it is indeed a GREAT guitar with all of the fancy Gibson custom shop appointments, but can easily tell by feel that it isn't a Gibson. I think the difference is the poly vs nitro finish? Maybe something about the wood itself? I thought that the satin finish on the 355 would make that difference in feel less so, but it didn't.
I also picked up the non-Art back Epi Adam Jones Les Paul Custom, and it also has all of the custom shop appointments, and I also have the Gibson AJ Les Paul standard that I got a few years ago which is fantastic. Even though the newer Epi IGC AJ Les Paul has all of the appointments of the real thing... holding the Epi AJ LPC vs. the Gibson AJ LPS there is no contest... the Gibson feels so much nicer and it is difficult to explain why. This made no sense to me, so I had one of my kids randomly choose and hand me one of the two, and I could tell which one it was in <10 secs of fondling. There is some kind of alchemy at play in the Gibson factory maybe...
It might sound like I am crapping on Epis, but I am not, it is all about expectations. Every one of these Epi IGCs I have picked up have been excellent guitars... great hardware and high quality finish, etc. If folks are buying them thinking they are getting a Gibson at less than half price... they are not, and will be dissappointed (as I was). But I was setting the wrong expectation, which should instead be that you are getting a well made, high quality Epi with Gibson hardware and construction(except finish)... and the features of a Gibson, but NOT the "feel" of a Gibson.
Quote from ElatedOstrich5190 :
For anyone that's not seen this listing, it's worth reading the "From the owner" section.
Why would anyone in their right mind respray that?
My take is that it was probably resprayed while Dave was using it on tour. Considering the current owner was Dave's guitar tech, he was still likely the person that did the respraying.
This model has a disproportionate amount of headstock breaking in shipping stories. Idk if they made the case a fraction of an inch too small or what.
I got mine a couple of days ago, showed up in perfect shape. It doesn't hurt that Sweetwater put some packing material behind the headstock in the case(probably after doing their checkup and photos), as well as doubleboxing it. But I think what actually made sure it got home safe was the 2 bags of candy I got this time .
I got mine a couple of days ago, showed up in perfect shape. It doesn't hurt that Sweetwater put some packing material behind the headstock in the case(probably after doing their checkup and photos), as well as doubleboxing it. But I think what actually made sure it got home safe was the 2 bags of candy I got this time .
Quote from batotman :
This model has a disproportionate amount of headstock breaking in shipping stories. Idk if they made the case a fraction of an inch too small or what.
I got mine a couple of days ago, showed up in perfect shape. It doesn't hurt that Sweetwater put some packing material behind the headstock in the case(probably after doing their checkup and photos), as well as doubleboxing it. But I think what actually made sure it got home safe was the 2 bags of candy I got this time .
But most importantly...how does it sound & play? Read some reviews where people complain about the neck being too "chunky". Also read reviews where people love the Gibson pickups. What say you Mr. Mike C?
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank General_Klinger
I appreciate the IGC's trends of using the open book headstock, real MOP, Gibson USA(burst buckers in this Grohl guitar) or Custom Shop pickups, etc. I also recently got the Epi 1959 ES-355 (red) that also has all of the IGC upgrades (and CustomBuckers which are VERY NICE) for 1170 from Sweetwater used, and it is indeed a GREAT guitar with all of the fancy Gibson custom shop appointments, but can easily tell by feel that it isn't a Gibson. I think the difference is the poly vs nitro finish? Maybe something about the wood itself? I thought that the satin finish on the 355 would make that difference in feel less so, but it didn't.
I also picked up the non-Art back Epi Adam Jones Les Paul Custom, and it also has all of the custom shop appointments, and I also have the Gibson AJ Les Paul standard that I got a few years ago which is fantastic. Even though the newer Epi IGC AJ Les Paul has all of the appointments of the real thing... holding the Epi AJ LPC vs. the Gibson AJ LPS there is no contest... the Gibson feels so much nicer and it is difficult to explain why. This made no sense to me, so I had one of my kids randomly choose and hand me one of the two, and I could tell which one it was in <10 secs of fondling. There is some kind of alchemy at play in the Gibson factory maybe...
It might sound like I am crapping on Epis, but I am not, it is all about expectations. Every one of these Epi IGCs I have picked up have been excellent guitars... great hardware and high quality finish, etc. If folks are buying them thinking they are getting a Gibson at less than half price... they are not, and will be dissappointed (as I was). But I was setting the wrong expectation, which should instead be that you are getting a well made, high quality Epi with Gibson hardware and construction(except finish)... and the features of a Gibson, but NOT the "feel" of a Gibson.
Looking forward to this one, thanks OP, repped!
I highly recommend Dave's oroginal
I highly recommend Dave's oroginal
I highly recommend Dave's oroginal
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For anyone that's not seen this listing, it's worth reading the "From the owner" section.
Why would anyone in their right mind respray that?
This model has a disproportionate amount of headstock breaking in shipping stories. Idk if they made the case a fraction of an inch too small or what.
I got mine a couple of days ago, showed up in perfect shape. It doesn't hurt that Sweetwater put some packing material behind the headstock in the case(probably after doing their checkup and photos), as well as doubleboxing it. But I think what actually made sure it got home safe was the 2 bags of candy I got this time
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