New Vivian Campbell "Holy Diver" Epiphone Les Paul Thoughts?

[romanianreaper]

Saw this pop up and was curious of everyone's thoughts. Obviously would have been much better if this was an actual Gibson like the original but surprised to see a signature model for him regardless:

 

[trey85stang]

id wait to see if he actually plays it, if he does its probably worth it.

 

[panhead]

Find the Japanese version it will have Gibson headstock

 

[romanianreaper]

id wait to see if he actually plays it, if he does its probably worth it.

I don't think he'll play the Epiphone at all. It is cool he came out with this for the fans but I just don't see him playing that live.

 

[PAULYC2]

Considering his original was a wine red Standard that was resprayed black (and poorly too), I don’t see a market for this at all.

 

[Mailman1971]

Pass...

 

[sytharnia1560]

If I liked les pauls I would totally get one. I remembering reading years and years ago he said he stopped playing that LP because he couldn't keep it in tune

I know he switched to Charvels/floyded guitars after Dokken opened for DIO and he was blown away by George Lynch and he totally changed his style to be more "now" and IMO he was never quite the same. His playing on Holy Diver was Gary Moore/John Sykes and just slayed

 

[legend71]

I find this interesting as I recall reading an interview where he slammed Gibson and said they were lame for not taking care of him and ignoring him. Now he is hooked with his own signature guitar albeit an Epiphone. I think his black LP is cool and the story behind it is cool. I did like his Dio era tones best with that guitar and his style then was more old school. When he got into Anderson guitars and the big rack etc he kind of faded off for me. Def Leppard was a career money thing I am sure and it has been a great run for the guy. I am a fan of his playing and really enjoyed hearing his thoughts and story. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I think he could have been playing just about anything on those first two albums and it still would have sounded great because the songs and leads were slamming. He played with a lot of fire. I think there is a market for this if you want a good playing axe without the Gibson price tag and it looks much nicer than the original in terms of the finish. You could however just grab a couple of dimarzios and throw them in an epiphone though... as for his "tone", to be honest, a lot of the leads and some of the rythms on that first album sound like shit. Thin, compressed, not mic'd well. Not sure the "tone" would be the biggest sell. Playing was what did it, not the gear.

 

[Metlupass2]

Epiphone sigs = homosexual

 

[IntenseJim]

Epiphone sigs = homosexual

 

[japetus]

$900? Just buy a 90's Black LP studio with an ebony board for less than that and be done with it.

 

[romanianreaper]

Epiphone sigs = homosexual

 

[romanianreaper]

After everyone's replies, here is my two cents on it. I think the idea behind it is great but like I said before, make it a real Les Paul and do it as accurate as you can. I agree with a lot of what was said, and really don't see a market for this. On my soapbox again but as usual, artists and/or guitar companies miss the target on stuff like this because they put it out too late. I was a huge Vivian Campbell and DIO fan and was in high school when that stuff was huge. I'm nearing my 50s now. This type of guitar should have come out way before this and maybe they could have captured more of the market.

He has been playing that old guitar with Last in Line. I love the nostalgic part of this but just falls a bit short IMO.

 

[chunktone]

Epiphone sigs = homosexual

 

[IntenseJim]

Epiphone sigs = homosexual

Truly one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. Hall of Fame material.

 

[errrrrl]

Epiphone sigs = homosexual

So true... I have two epi sigs... both were given as gifts but I totally feel playing them

 

[Markedman]

A lot of the Gibson guitars I've played sucked moose cock, some were excellent. The "studio" line is such garbage, it's baffling crazy.

I had a 2015 Les Paul tribute IMG_4631 by John Bazzano, on Flickr that was an excellent guitar, it came with a case, sold it eBay for $875.00 and bought a 2011 Les Paul traditional for $1,250.00 Les Paul with case by John Bazzano, on Flickr that is good, not great. Every Epiphone I've ever played was junk. Cheap rattling vibrating junk. They even smell bad! Open the case and that smell of cheap wood, glue and paint. Oh they're pretty but that is what almost all the crap coming out of China looks like.

My buddy had a Chibson that you wouldn't know wasn't the real deal. Much better than Epipen guitars.

 

[PAULYC2]

Epiphone = Epiphony

 

[psychodave]

Epiphone sigs = homosexual

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