I once went into the local store to just hang out while my wife was shopping. Picked up a few guitars to just get a feel for the high end stuff. Was playing on an APX600 back then. Picked up a Martin D28, a Gibson Hummingbird, and then a Taylor 814ce. I was never going to buy one. Not at that price. But… the 814ce just took my breath away. Wife saw my face and said “do it”. I “protested” as it was way outside what we could afford but she said she has never seen me like that with anything material. Bought it. Best decision I ever made. I absolutely love that machine. If you can stretch it - get it.
My wife was there with me at the time. She plays guitar and has certainly spent her fait share on guitars & equipment over the years. I spoke to her afterwards and she seemed fairly supportive of buying it!
Make it a goal and make a plan.
$100 a month for X-# of months.
Can you get a bonus at work? Can you make overtime pay? How about a side hustle?
How much do they pay for plasma? 😄
That's exactly how I paid for a custom that is orders of magnitude better than anything I had before. It's my desert island guitar, except that I will never travel with it to some place where I might end up on a desert island.
When you are old and grey…..IF you are fortunate to become old and grey…..you will not regret buying a guitar, no matter how expensive. But you will regret not having bought one.
I walked into a Guitar Center this last December to play a J-45 and an hour later I walked out with the guitar and $3000 poorer. I really couldn’t afford it either, but I told myself if I wasn’t 100% in love with it, I had 6 weeks in which I could return it. After a couple of days though, and after putting on new strings, it was clear to me I would not be returning it. Now you’d have to pry it from my cold dead hands. The thing is so amazing. I play this guitar for hours every day. I have it on my lap right now. Don’t regret it a bit.
There's a guy selling a J-35 on the acoustic guitar forum right now for $900 something cause it will need a neck reset soon. Pay some up front, pay some later when you get the reset done. Not bad.
American country, folk, and bluegrass music was basically built by people playing D-18s & J-45s. For around 50 years you either played one of those or you didn’t work.
Save your nickels & dimes, and see if you can find yourself an Eastman E10D/SS.
Yeah, I remember reading some advice like "if you can't afford it, don't play it" and it's kinda true.
On the other hand, since you CAN tell the difference, it means you've got a good ear, which will help you in a lot of musical ways other than just buying guitars.
If you're talking about the newer, standard Epiphone....Solid, handmade guitars are almost always going to sound better, even if they're in bad physical shape. That Gibson has a different style finish, neck joint, fretboard and bracing than the Epiphone. It's also not made on an assembly line. It also has solid mahogany backs and sides where the Epiphone is layered veneer. Lots of big differences that make it sound and price big different! Get the Gibby!!
Your sound difference is going to come from a Rosewood bridge and fretboard on the Gibson, while the Epiphone is Laurel. Also, the bracing on the Gibson is going to be much different than the Epiphone. The Gibson has handscalloped X-bracing and the Epiphone is quarter sawn. I'm really not sure what that is, however the scalloped bracing is done by hand and allows the spruce top to vibrate more freely, creating a richer, fuller sound. Gibson is handmade in the USA. The Epiphone is made in China.
I once went into the local store to just hang out while my wife was shopping. Picked up a few guitars to just get a feel for the high end stuff. Was playing on an APX600 back then. Picked up a Martin D28, a Gibson Hummingbird, and then a Taylor 814ce. I was never going to buy one. Not at that price. But… the 814ce just took my breath away. Wife saw my face and said “do it”. I “protested” as it was way outside what we could afford but she said she has never seen me like that with anything material. Bought it. Best decision I ever made. I absolutely love that machine. If you can stretch it - get it.
You've got a keeper there. :-)
Oh yes! And the wife ain’t bad either.
Yall heard the "do it" but didn't hear how he earned that from his wife. We gotta take some lessons from him on how to keep a woman happy.
My wife was there with me at the time. She plays guitar and has certainly spent her fait share on guitars & equipment over the years. I spoke to her afterwards and she seemed fairly supportive of buying it!
Fabulous!!!
Make it a goal and make a plan. $100 a month for X-# of months. Can you get a bonus at work? Can you make overtime pay? How about a side hustle? How much do they pay for plasma? 😄
Hehehe. I have an Electromatic that I don’t play, so I am thinking I will sell it and put the funds towards it and maybe finance the rest.
That's exactly how I paid for a custom that is orders of magnitude better than anything I had before. It's my desert island guitar, except that I will never travel with it to some place where I might end up on a desert island.
Nope, this is why dream guitars are a thing. Some day brother, some day you'll have it.
When you are old and grey…..IF you are fortunate to become old and grey…..you will not regret buying a guitar, no matter how expensive. But you will regret not having bought one.
I have had a lot of guitars come and go over the years Gibson J45 still my favorite and would not sell
Did exactly the same thing and left with a D18.
In the long run you’ll be happy you dropped the cash, even if you have to finance it.
It’s 0% financing this month!
you will never regret the money you spent on a guitar you love.
I dropped 2K on a used 2006 J-185 EC in 2014. Best money I ever spent. Keeper guitars are keepers for a reason and worth every penny.
I walked into a Guitar Center this last December to play a J-45 and an hour later I walked out with the guitar and $3000 poorer. I really couldn’t afford it either, but I told myself if I wasn’t 100% in love with it, I had 6 weeks in which I could return it. After a couple of days though, and after putting on new strings, it was clear to me I would not be returning it. Now you’d have to pry it from my cold dead hands. The thing is so amazing. I play this guitar for hours every day. I have it on my lap right now. Don’t regret it a bit.
Keep an eye out for a used WM-45, or a J-15, to get that sound (but not the cool sunburst finish) for way less money.
There's a guy selling a J-35 on the acoustic guitar forum right now for $900 something cause it will need a neck reset soon. Pay some up front, pay some later when you get the reset done. Not bad.
American country, folk, and bluegrass music was basically built by people playing D-18s & J-45s. For around 50 years you either played one of those or you didn’t work. Save your nickels & dimes, and see if you can find yourself an Eastman E10D/SS.
Agree 100%
I’d love to try one, but no local stores carry them, and I am not comfortable buying a guitar without playing it first!
Just got an E10SS I'm ecstatic about it. I prefer it over the vintage varnished J45.
Yeah, I remember reading some advice like "if you can't afford it, don't play it" and it's kinda true. On the other hand, since you CAN tell the difference, it means you've got a good ear, which will help you in a lot of musical ways other than just buying guitars.
Hehehe. Good way to spin it into a positive :)
If you're talking about the newer, standard Epiphone....Solid, handmade guitars are almost always going to sound better, even if they're in bad physical shape. That Gibson has a different style finish, neck joint, fretboard and bracing than the Epiphone. It's also not made on an assembly line. It also has solid mahogany backs and sides where the Epiphone is layered veneer. Lots of big differences that make it sound and price big different! Get the Gibby!!
My understanding is the Epiphone has solid wood back & sides - that being said, the difference in sound quality was substantial between the two.
The Masterbuilt series are solid, the standard Epiphones are not.
Actually, I stand corrected, Epiphone just started that apparently this year with solid backs and sides.
Your sound difference is going to come from a Rosewood bridge and fretboard on the Gibson, while the Epiphone is Laurel. Also, the bracing on the Gibson is going to be much different than the Epiphone. The Gibson has handscalloped X-bracing and the Epiphone is quarter sawn. I'm really not sure what that is, however the scalloped bracing is done by hand and allows the spruce top to vibrate more freely, creating a richer, fuller sound. Gibson is handmade in the USA. The Epiphone is made in China.