Gretsch or Epiphone?

Shopping locally for a decent guitar and found two I like, A white Gretsch Electromatic & an Epiphone Riviera with Bigsby.
Both are available for £300, my ballpark for a 'new' instrument, I was looking at a WildKat or a DOT, so these two are the same semi-acoustic I liked.

So do I go for a beautiful win red/gold trim Epiphone with Bigsby, or The Gretsch.
I am a short @rse,so I have visions of Steve Marriot with his little legs sticking out the bottom, the epiphone looks a little smaller.
Im NO great player, its a kinda 'bucket 'list' treat if you like, a one offand I dontwant to screw it up.

Ideas chaps & chappettes ?

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

I own an Epiphone ATm and I love them. Epiphone is actually owned by Gibson guitars so you know you are getting quality with an Epi.

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

Have you played them? How it feels is the most important part.

Lets just say Craigslist...just in case!
But no, Ive not laid eyes on either so far, just YouTube seeing/hearing whats what. The EPI sounds a little darker, which I happen to like, pups can be changed not mention effects pedals to make things brighter.
Gretsch is obviously the big name, my fav player plays a Gretsch White Falcon, but I do realise that simply owing one is NOT going to turn me into Billy Duffy!

Theres also the issue of Bigsbys pushing the guitar out of tune, I dare say there are other hacks for each.
But at this point the EPI is looking the leader, wine mahogany finish, cream banding and all metal parts/knobs in gold.
a reply to: FauxMulder

An Epiphone Casino...any hollowbody is affordable, but Gretch is a limo compared to it

Depends on your taste and amp rig.

Stop by a store and try them out

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

You can mostly shape your tone from your amp, I wouldn't worry about that too much. I would go to a guitar store and try them out and then get the one you like better from craigslist. Either way, I hope you enjoy what you get and keep playing!

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

I'm a little biased, but I'd say go for the Epiphone. My first guitar back in 1973 was an Epiphone and I loved it. I gave it to my little brother to learn on after I bought a Les Paul and he ended up butchering it to use the neck on a body he made... I ended up getting it back and got it back together minus a few small parts. Wish I'd just kept it.

And Fender owns Gretsch. I personally own 2 Epihones and have been as pleased with them as I am with my Gibson's.

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

Gretsch is a superior instrument but I've played many Epiphones that are decent.

Look at Eastwood guitars .. well made alot on sale and great designs Eastwoodguitars.com

They are both fine guitars, I've been playing an Epiphone Les Paul Standard now for about 8 years and it's served me well, but i'm getting old (dag nabbit) and it's a heavy guitar. so i've done my research and played many different brands and fixed my sights on an extended range (7 string) Jackson so much lighter and perfect for the style i'm playing now

In the end you have to decide which guitar fits your style and you best, play them, I'm not about the look of the guitar so much as what i can get out of it, good luck

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

So do I go for a beautiful win red/gold trim Epiphone with Bigsby,

Epiphone for the win.
I have an Epiphone Les Paul....it came with p-90s and rocks, best guitar I have ever had.
I also have an ibanez roadstar series guitar from the 80's.
Nothing touches my epiphone Les Paul though...it is just a solid, ready to go guitar.

I have 3 other guitars but I won't go on about those.

Get the Epiphone, its like owning a Gibson.
A big yes, get the epiphone.

I've owned and played both of those guitars. In my opinion it really comes down to are you going to keep it forever or sell it later on down the road?

Has there been any work done to either of them? Is the wiring still good, are the pickups in good shape? Is the action low or high? Is the neck fat or skinny, slick or sticky? Do the tuning pegs slip? Stuff like that.

The choice really comes down to you. Which one do you like? Which one feels better in your hands?

When it comes to electric guitars your amp and efx processors are what is going to determine most of the sound.

Oh, and check for cracks along the neck and headstock.

Get the Epiphone and spend the left over money on a pair of black and white wingtips.

Cowboy boots with the Gretch....

Im a 'Cuban Heels' kinda guy from a young age!

Perhaps I wasnt clear enough, both are offered on pvt sale strores still closed and likely to be for a while yet.

My fav player plays a Gretsch White Falcon and a couple of LP's, but Ive heard him say that the Gretsch was hard work...whatever that means. But a Gretsch is still a Gretsch.

I like the body style on the Epiphone and it fits my body size slightly better.
It 'looks' sexy...all that dark wood & F holes. Gold hardware...

Both have a Bigsby and I hear stories about them putting the guitar out of tune, dont know maybe theres a hack or mods for that, even for a Gretsch or Epi in general.

I have one chance to get this right and dont want to end up screwing it up. Im considering visiting both sellers and trying them out, with my wing man in tow of course....and yes he can play, unlike me. LOL

Reminds me of my digital slr drama, had to choose between a Canon or Nikon I went for Canon as the Nikon had a rep as a 'star-eater' in astrophotgraphy.

a reply to: olaru12

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

Every guitar has issues with staying in tune, buy some grover tuning heads if it won't stay in tune.
I can buy a $40 guitar and keep it in tune with that simple modification.

Still suggesting the Epiphone though.

My first question is

Can you play?

If you can play, go give em a spin.

If you are learning how to play go sit with one on your lap and see which one has a more comfortable neck for your hand size.

I have been playing for 20+ years.

a reply to: Tie No Bows!

I've only owned Fenders. My current play is an 21 year old American Standard Strat.

That said, I'd go with the Epiphone myself. I always have sort of wanted a Les Paul model and since I don't see myself forking over thousands for a straight up Gibson LP, I have contemplated the significantly cheaper Epiphone LP more than once.

originally posted by: Tie No Bows!
Both have a Bigsby and I hear stories about them putting the guitar out of tune, dont know maybe theres a hack or mods for that, even for a Gretsch or Epi in general.

That's whammy bars in general. Never used a Bigsby, but I gotta think it knocks off the tune less than a Rose whammy does and certainly less than a floating bridge does. Again, I'm sort of guessing on this where the Bigsby is concerned, but it sounds mellow as hell whereas you can hammer the hell out of a Rose whammy and divebomb the chord almost into sludge territory if you really want to.