Samick Greg Bennett LP Copy

[Genesis]

I'm thinking of buying one of these:

http://www.gregbennettguitars.com/av3.html

Anybody heard of these? Basically, they are made by Samick and designed by a guy named Greg Bennett. Since Samick used to make the Epi Korean LPs, I'm guessing these are quite good. The price is really cheap too, compared to Epi.

Any opinions?

[Neemo]

I have a samick acoustic guitar....one of the best sounding acousitic's i've ever heard...not a word of a lie...it's old though like 10-15 years at least. not sure what the quality of the new stuff is like.

I've owned a samick Bass too...also great quality

[Mal Brossard]

I have the Bennett AV3 model.  And all I can say is YES!!!  GET ONE!!! They seriously are great for such a low price.

[Neemo]

They seriously are great for such a low price.

how much are they? comparable to epi lp's?

[AXL 20]

it looks like shit, I have to admit that.

All i know is hat samick pianos are shit

[Verasa]

Quit beating around the bush and buy a Gibson- it's worth it

[Mal Brossard]

My AV3 was $350, I believe.  I don't care how good anyone says Gibson is, I'm not spending twice the money for one when I can get a comparable replica in the Samick at a more affordable price.

[Alan]

My AV3 was $350, I believe.  I don't care how good anyone says Gibson is, I'm not spending twice the money for one when I can get a comparable replica in the Samick at a more affordable price.

lets just say you get what you pay for. you buy a cheap guitar you get a cheap guitar.

you buy a gibson you get a great guitar, costs more but worth every penny.

[Genesis]

Actually, these are the only guitars available here. They are better in quality than Epi, so I think I'm goiing to go for one.

[Neemo]

i dunno I've been told if you buy an epi LP you get 90% of the guitar for 1/4 of the price, i've played both gibson and epi LP standards and i didnt notice much of a difference

WIth Gibson you get a guitar made from 1 peice of wood, epi's are laminated together peices, and Gibson is made in USA while Epi's are made in korea....so i gues if you HAVE TO have a guitar made in the USA then go gibson, but if you cant afford to drop $3000-4000 then go with a copy

[Genesis]

Gibson is made in USA while Epi's are made in korea....

Actually, Epis are made in the US, Japan (Elitist models) and now China. The Korean Epis were made by Samick. That's why I think these guitars are better than the Epis available now. Korean guitars kick the crap out of any other make, including US models.

[Neemo]

Gibson is made in USA while Epi's are made in korea....

Actually, Epis are made in the US, Japan (Elitist models) and now China. The Korean Epis were made by Samick. That's why I think these guitars are better than the Epis available now. Korean guitars kick the crap out of any other make, including US models.

oops my bad, but are you sure? Cuz the newer epi lp's are supposed to blow the older ones outta the water and i swear the dude said when i bought mine that Epi LP's are made in korea...and i know Wikipedia is not the greatest source but it says

In the early 1970s, Epiphones began to be manufactured in Japan. Epiphone's main manufacturing base is now in Korea. The brand is now primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models (much like the Squier brand is used by Fender), most of the time with different tonewoods, often resulting in the instruments bearing a visual and ergonomic similarity to the Gibson originals, with a slightly different tone. Epiphone's own models, however, such as the Emperor, Zephyr, Riviera and Sheraton, are instruments that are built to higher quality standards than the company's "Gibson copy" line. Epiphone also produces a range of higher quality instruments under the "Elitist Series" moniker.

[Genesis]

Here's a more recent article: http://www.sinomedia.net/eurobiz/v200504/music0504.html

"America's legendary guitar maker, Gibson, has abandoned its strategy of outsourcing production of its mid-range Epiphone series to Asian factories. In October 2002, Gibson opened its own Epiphone plant outside Qingdao, in northeast China. "In order to produce a superior instrument, we needed to open our own factory,?? said a spokesperson for the President of Epiphone. In the past, most Epiphone guitars were assembled in Korea by Samick, but today Gibson is exporting better guitars more cheaply from its Qingdao factory."

[Neemo]

but today Gibson is exporting better guitars

thats all i care about


kidding...thanks for finding that...so we were both wrong they are made in china now..but then again isn't everything made in china these days...except gibsons of course

[Mal Brossard]

i dunno I've been told if you buy an epi LP you get 90% of the guitar for 1/4 of the price, i've played both gibson and epi LP standards and i didnt notice much of a difference

WIth Gibson you get a guitar made from 1 peice of wood, epi's are laminated together peices, and Gibson is made in USA while Epi's are made in korea....so i gues if you HAVE TO have a guitar made in the USA then go gibson, but if you cant afford to drop $3000-4000 then go with a copy

You're right on the "90% for 1/4 the price" remark, and having tried out Gibsons, Epis, and my Samick, I think the Samick is slightly better than the Epi, and costs even less.  When I was looking for a LP-type guitar, I checked out every model I could find that was in my price range.  $3000 for a Gibson is far too much, even $750 for the Epi was above me.  $350 for the Samick, the only thing you aren't getting is the name "Gibson" or "Epiphone" on it.  And with my Samick, is has a set neck, as opposed to those bolted things used by some companies.

If I'm going to go out and spend $3000 on something, it won't be a guitar, I can guarantee you that much.

[Neemo]

If I'm going to go out and spend $3000 on something, it won't be a guitar, I can guarantee you that much.

yeah exactly....i got a sweet deal on my Epi LP standard...$450 CDN....cuz it has a speck of sawdust in the clear coat on the neck near the body...its a factory reject.... but i couldnt see anythign else wrong woth it besides that, and it sounds mint....but i never even knew samick made LP's or i woulda tried one out

[Genesis]

I just bought the Samick Avion AV3, transparent black colour LP copy and wow oh wow, this guitar simply beats the shit out of the Epiphone. At just $290, it has Grover tuners (unlike the plastiky Epi) and Duncan "designed" pups which sound great (just needs to be potted to remove the microphonics). Great finish and action.

Highly recommended to anyone over the Epi at such a low price.