I hate to say this but I'm about done with "Gibson". I love what I have but buying a new one or a custom shop model to get what I would want would require a 2nd mortgage on my home.
I have a 120th Ann Explorer and I love the guitar but eventually I wanted an Explorer with a FR Trem like the LP Axcess and I'd have to save my $$$$ for years or sell most of what I already had to get it. I just can't see doing that.
Then I found the Epiphone (Brendon Small) Ghost Horse. Holy Crap, I couldn't throw my $$$ down fast enough!!! I may have purchased 2 guitars in my life without playing them first but this was a no brainer. With Epiphone building this kind of quality and putting insane features like this guitar has I'm not looking to spend 4X the money for a name. I had my luthier and a guitar tech go over the thing with a microscope and neither of them found a single flaw.
I have also played the Epiphone Axcess and that guitar was just stellar in every respect. 3K less than the Gibson brand of the same model. At this point Epiphone wins hands down as I only care how the instrument plays, quality and sound.
View attachment 430920