Choose One Of These Guitars

[Elias Graves]

Somebody puts the following guitars on a table and tells you to choose one. These are the only options. Which one do you take and why?

Epi Dot in pelham blue. The cheapest of the bunch, but they're all free anyway.
Epi ES175 sunburst
Epi Wildkat in natural
Epi ES339 in sunburst (Has the new probucker pickups with coil split)
Gibson Melody Maker reissue in sunburst

Go!

EG

[G Man]

I'd go for the 339, mainly because I already have a 335 type guitar, have no use for the fully hollow jazz box that is the 175, have a great P90 guitar already so no need for the wildkat and am not a single coil player, so no need for the Melody Maker. Lastly, I've always been a little curious about the 339s.

[Luke V]

339 because they are great guitars. I love mine, they sound and play great.

[ruby7829]

The wildkat. Killer looks with an awesome rockabilly vibe. And with some wolfetone dogears in there it'll smoke. I also like that it's a unique beast, not epi's take on a Gibson.

[BadJaxx]

the 339 cuz it's the only one that interests me....if made well, it could be a great model for Epi...

[Blanket Jackson]

Epi ES339 in sunburst (Has the new probucker pickups with coil split)

[crzyfngers]

339. i have one but two is better.

[gtraddict]

if you dont have a semi go for the 335

[DrBob]

The 339, I want one anyway and of those on offer it's by far the most interesting option.

[tapeworm]

another vote for the 339. havent been too impressed with the dot, not interested in any of the other models listed.

[Elias Graves]

For me, I think it comes down to the 339, Wildkat or MM.
The Wildkat is unique. I like that.
339 is new and my one experience with a probucker equipped guitar was pretty good. (Epi LP trad pro) Supposedly, Epi used all the latest tools and gadgets to design and build the 339. It may be a step up in quality.
The MM is a Gibson. I have a cheap Junior, but it smokes my Epi in terms of sound and playability.

EG

[EADGBE]

Gibson Melody Maker.

[smallbutmighty]

339

[CronoDL]

339 for sure.

[whaiyun]

Wildkat I suppose.
I don't dig the Epiphone humbuckers =P

[Robert1950]

A poll would have been nice. ES339. I am seriously considering the Ultra339 when it comes out later in the year. For the at home noodler who wants to record directly into the computer over backing tracks - it seems like a seriously fun toy.

[crzyfngers]

A poll would have been nice. ES339. I am seriously considering the Ultra339 when it comes out later in the year. For the at home noodler who wants to record directly into the computer over backing tracks - it seems like a seriously fun toy.

i just read up on those. it sounds like a cool unit. i'll have to play one and see.

[chrisr777]

Melody Maker. I have never played an Epi that I have really been happy with except a Casino.

[scr@tchy]

seems like epi is going to score a major win with the 339, it was certainly the news i was waiting for. hope it has 500k pots in it.

[grapeshot]

Whichever one played and sounded the best; hard to make a decision just based on the list.

[Marty DiBergi]

Whichever one played and sounded the best; hard to make a decision just based on the list.

Quoted for truth... but I'd be inherently leaning toward the melody maker first and foremost and let the others prove me wrong.

[Doctor Morbius]

Somebody puts the following guitars on a table and tells you to choose one. These are the only options. Which one do you take and why?

Epi Dot in pelham blue. The cheapest of the bunch, but they're all free anyway.
Epi ES175 sunburst
Epi Wildkat in natural
Epi ES339 in sunburst (Has the new probucker pickups with coil split)
Gibson Melody Maker reissue in sunburst

Go!

EGGiven that all were equally good playing guitars, I'd take the Epi Dot in pelham blue because it's the nicest color and I don't like sunburnt. Then I'd upgrade the pickups to some Classic '57s or something nice like that.

[chucke99]

I'll take the Melody Maker because it says Gibson on the headstock and not Epiphone. Then I'd sell it.

[sonic_777111]

Wildkat. I think the QC on them is a little higher (maybe it's just me) but I really like the sound and the way it's built. The Bigsby is a nice plus, too.

If there were a Riviera on there, we might have some competition.

[seth3]

Melody Maker, for sure. They have several shapes now (SG, LP, V, Explorer). I'd take the SG shape and, eventually, take out the humbucker and throw in a P90.

But, Melody Maker, absolutely.

[alexanderplatz]

Given that all were equally good playing guitars, I'd take the Epi Dot in pelham blue because it's the nicest color and I don't like sunburnt. Then I'd upgrade the pickups to some Classic '57s or something nice like that.

I concur with Doctor Moribus.

[cjp54]

Gibson Melody Maker!

[Dipintoplayer]

My only question is what i'm buying it for ...If i was buying the guitar as a modding platform it would be the simple EPI Dot..If i planned on playing it as is it would be the EPI 339..

If you would have said the flamkat version of the wildkat i would have gone that direction because i have always wanted one for that rockabilly side of me..

[Elias Graves]

Well, it looks like this is a reality now. My Alleykat has warped and is going back to Epi for replacement, which will have to come from current inventory.

I'm currently leaning toward the Wildkat (maybe the Royale), a 339 or a 175.

The MM is kinda redundant, as I have a Gibson LP Jr already and don't need another one pup guitar.

The 175 is one of my dream guitars, but current versions are made in Indonesia and the one's I've seen have been inconsistent.

339 is a bit of an X factor. It looks really good on paper, but has no track record. The Probucker pickups are nice, however.

A Dot is a possibility, though I'd be ripping myself off a bit, as the price is $100 lower than my Kat.

Don't like the P93 riviera.

Wildkat is among the top contenders. Despite my Alleykat's faults, I like the size, shape and layout. The master volume setup is killer. On a more shallow note, I love the bound F holes and the metal nameplate. :D

Though I really don't need another solid, the LP Traditional Pro is a killer guitar.

Tough call.

EG

[Pietro]

The Wildkat is absolutely different from anything I own or have owned... so... that...

[silvertone1481]

MELODY MAKER!

I'm not too crazy about the others, even though Pelham Blue is gorgeous.....

[sidneymg]

175 would be my choice, since the originals are laminated, the epi might be real close in terms of tone and besides that 175's are just cool!!! I've wanted one ever since I saw Steve Howe play the heck out of one with Yes back in the 70's. They are not just for jazz.

[Dale]

Of those ...

Epi ES339 in sunburst (Has the new probucker pickups with coil split)

[cratz2]

All of them are pretty cool, but I'd probably reach for the 339 first, then the 175.

[Marble]

wildcat because its p90s

the 339 might be fun

[musicofanatic5]

MM. Or maybe just take up the tuba...

[Elias Graves]

A visit to GC tonight helped. Here's what I played.

Korina LP traditional pro. The best Epi LP I've played. A big chunky neck, thin finish and ballsy sound you expect. A damn fine guitar for $500.

THEN, I saw the Anniversary Casino! From the 16 fret neck to the metal nameplate, it screams "COOL." The Gibson guts sound just like you expect em to....refined and fat on low, but quite gritty when pushed. This is the best Epiphone I've ever played. Period.

After that, I checked out a regular Casino and put it down after about a minute. Those overwound pickups just killed it. Plus, the body build is really no different than that on your standard Dot. Kinda plasticky. OK for maybe $500, but I don't see the extra.

A standard Dot was next. I liked it way better than the Casino. Go figure.

So, I think my deal now is to return the Kat with the espectation of selling the replacement.
I'm buying an anniversary Casino.

EG

[enharmonic]

I'd go for the dot. I like the bigger semi's.

[wreckfan]

Wildcat !!

I had a flamekat - played pretty nice and the pickups sounded great.

[VaughnC]

This strat-o-nut would walk away from that table still hungry ;).