A Japanese Epiphone question

[jaxcat]

So I threw a bid in on a Japanese made Epiphone Les Paul Standard with the open book headstock, made likely around 2001, I would say by the serial number. Anyway I didn't win as the bids got way to high for me. It ended up selling for $1275 US ($1400 Canadian). Am I missing something? That seems really expensive considering that there are a few Gibson Les Paul standards on my local Kijiji for close to same price?

 

[andreww]

A link to the auction would be helpful. At that price I could only guess that it might be an LQ series. Very nice guitars, probably as good as the current lineup of Standards but at a fraction of the cost.

The thing that defines a quality guitar is the build quality. The quality of wood, number of pieces of wood, solid to, long tenon, and finish. Any Les Paul that is solid topped, 1 or 2 pieces, and lacquer finished with a long tenon is going to be over a grand. Thats a bargain.

 

[Cardinalcomb]

I find it kind of weird that generally, the most expensive Epi's (LQ series) have a plain top.

 

[andreww]

Thats probably because quality flamed maple is hard to come by in Japan. Might not even be maple, but a close relation. Who knows.

 

[jaxcat]

It was not a LQ series, I asked. I am not saying it wasn't worth it, I am just curious as to why it may be worth it vs newish Gibson LP's. Ebay posting is below

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/181525806593...l?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=181525806593&_rdc=1


The maple top did have some light flaming on it and the owner said it was not a veneer. Long tenon and 2 piece back Just trying to educate myself on these guitars

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

MiJ Epis are renowned for their build quality.

 

[paruwi]

It was not a LQ series, I asked. I am not saying it wasn't worth it, I am just curious as to why it may be worth it vs newish Gibson LP's. Ebay posting is below

Epiphone Japan BY Orville Gibson LES Paul Standard 59 Sunburst NO Reserve | eBay


The maple top did have some light flaming on it and the owner said it was not a veneer. Long tenon and 2 piece back Just trying to educate myself on these guitars

people are crazy...

BTW you can get a brand new FujiGen made LP for less , shipped to your door

FGN Neo Classic LS10 LD - Thomann UK

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/312827-les-paul-elitists-2.html#post6459017

 

[andreww]

Why are people crazy? That is an excellent guitar. You'd have to buy a custom shop LP to get a better guitar. The FGN you linked to is only about a hundred dollars cheaper and has an ugly horn and headstock and the top looks like it may be a veneer. I'd take that Epi any day of the week.

 

[TheX]

Why are people crazy? That is an excellent guitar. You'd have to buy a custom shop LP to get a better guitar. The FGN you linked to is only about a hundred dollars cheaper and has an ugly horn and headstock and the top looks like it may be a veneer. I'd take that Epi any day of the week.

There is a lot of truth in this post.

 

[doodie]

paruwi is right. For the same price you can get this from Fujigen off the catalog LP copy

 

[Mr Teeny]

paruwi is right. For the same price you can get this from Fujigen off the catalog LP copy

That looks like the domestic version with the rounder horn, think the export ones have the pointy horn. Guess it's all down to taste whether you prefer the pointy ESP style horn or rounded, think Gibson are happy they went with the pointy

I've yet to come across a fujigen guitar I didn't like and their customs do look nice real shell inlays ebony board, been tempted to bid on a few. They'll be a big step up from your bog standard Epi's but these aren't budget guitars think the retail is around 160K Yen for the NLC and NLS20's I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a JDM a lot cheaper than the new FGN's, that eBay Epi went for a ridiculous price certainly not your average

 

[danlee0502]

wow sold for 1400 CAD. lucky seller loll. someone must have really wanted it to push up the price on a No reserve auction to that price...

 

[DesolationBlvd]

Looking at the bidding history, it seems we had a highball bidder (b***5) and a nitwit (o***k) who kept ratcheting it up.

 

[jaxcat]

I was just curious if this was an anomaly or the standard price for such a guitar. Items are worth what the buyer pays so obviously this was worth it to the winning bidder. Who knows what reasons they had for this but it is what it is. I was just curious for future guitars I may see online and take an interest in. I like to be a little informed on things that I may want to acquire.

 

[wulfman]

Standard prices from Japan are around $750 to $900 shipped from what I have seen lately. That one had a nice top and perhaps the bidders were both drinking at the time...