Attn Guitar Heroes: Talk me out of this

[Damn Dirty Ape]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-G-1275-SG-Custom-Double-Neck-Electric-Guitar_W0QQitemZ260070633529QQihZ016QQcategoryZ33037QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This guitar would pretty much complete my dream electric gear collection.  While I lack the discipline to be a professional guitarist, I still like to dink around on both bass and guitar, and I own a Rickebacker 4003, Fender Jazz, and Fender Strat.  The double neck here represents my teen excuberance for Jimmy Page and Alex Lifeson.  Barring finding a Gibson double neck at an insanely cheap price, this Epiphone might be the way to go.

So, those of you who ever fantasied about being a guitar hero, or better yet actually became one, what do you think of this little beauty?   

[stray]

Haven't played an Epiphone one, but Epiphones in general aren't bad these days. Some of the cheaper Gibsons aren't even as good as some of them.

That being said, 12 strings, if cheaply made, are a bitch. Generally speaking. Sometimes to the point where the only option is to tune them down a whole step (D to D), because they can't handle much more pressure than that (no matter what neck adjustments you make).

Not saying this Epi would be like that, but you might want to check out some reviews.

[Strazos]

Paging Sky....

[stray]

Btw, by cheaply made, I mean some cheap guitars skimp on the wood. You don't want hollow points in your neck ever. Especially with the 12 string section (the average 6 string is already pulling 50 lbs of weight, so a 12 is almost double that). With bolt on type necks (Strats or Rics, for example) it's a little easier to get away with, but with Gibson or Epi's, you'll want solid mahogany. And sometimes it varies from guitar to guitar --- Some cheaper guitars are wonderful. Others of the same make and model are made of scraps. It's almost imperative to have them in your hand to test.

[Nebu]

If it's just to satisfy a craving, then do it.  If you really want a nice doubleneck guitar, I'd advise against it.  I'm not much of a guitar player (was a bass player professionally), but epiphones that I and others have owned were strictly as beater guitars and I'd often replace the tuning pegs immediately after purchase.  It's a decent enough guitar, but the craftsmanship just isn't there. 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Thanks for the advice, Stray and Nebu.

My first guitar was a very cheap 12 string acoustic and its neck warped in no time.  The wee 10 string acoustic I had a few years back did the same after awhile, but my ex loved it so much she had it fixed as much as it could be.  You can actually play it after a fashion.

Now that I'm soberish, the potential negatives of this guitar coupled with not being able to play it before purchasing are making me pretty wary.   So, I think I'll pass and live vicariously through a Jimmy Page action figure:

http://wizarduniverse.stores.yahoo.net/feb063823.html

[Trippy]

Now that I'm soberish, the potential negatives of this guitar coupled with not being able to play it before purchasing are making me pretty wary.   So, I think I'll pass and live vicariously through a Jimmy Page action figure:

http://wizarduniverse.stores.yahoo.net/feb063823.html

Where's the violin bow?

[Sky]

That's a good deal, compared to my usual online music spot:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitar/navigation/epiphone-solid-body-six-string-electric-guitar?N=100001+306241+200990+4294966822&page=1

I would NEVER buy a guitar online, though. I'm very picky and played about 50 guitars when I bought my SG. Even as nice as the SG is, I'm still considering new tuners for it, and it's pretty much top-end ('61 reissue 2005 model), excluding an actual vintage guitar (if Townshend left any) or some custom or artist model. No factory guitar is perfect imo.

[Damn Dirty Ape]

I would NEVER buy a guitar online, though. I'm very picky and played about 50 guitars when I bought my SG. Even as nice as the SG is, I'm still considering new tuners for it, and it's pretty much top-end ('61 reissue 2005 model), excluding an actual vintage guitar (if Townshend left any) or some custom or artist model. No factory guitar is perfect imo.

That's the thing, isn't it?  My main regrets in terms of instruments is not having enough cash to purchase dream instruments after I've played them.  I stumbled across a Les Paul in a pawn shop back in the '80s that had a holy tone yet its price was $500 because it was so beatin' up.  Another regret was an acoustic 12-string Gibson I encountered at a Nashvillle guitar store while on a King Crimson pilgrimage. 

[penfold]

The sorry state of the UK guitar retail industry is a real issue for me trying before i buy. The guitars I want, Jacksons, ESPs and Deans are all hard to find, and thats just to find a single version of the model you want, let alone finding the finish you liked. Denmark street is the main area for guitar shops in London, I went up there last night... 3 US made Jacksons (1 left handed), 4 US Deans, about 8 or 9 Japanese ESPs, no custom shop versions of any of the makes. Plenty of Fenders, Gibsons and other makes though.

On top of that the prices are sky high, the single Jackson RR1 was £1999/$3685. MusiciansFriend has them for $1949.

[stray]

Yikes. Not even some custom Jacksons go for that much in the States.

Guitar shops in Europe are particularly insane about vintage prices too. Even worse, their bullshit is trickling on to the Net.

[Damn Dirty Ape]

On top of that the prices are sky high, the single Jackson RR1 was £1999/$3685. MusiciansFriend has them for $1949.

Yikes!   Does that price include the obligatory hair perm for superstrat users?

[Sky]

The guitar I missed back in the 80s was a BC Rich Bich 10-string. I was a huge BC Rich fan (owned a pearl white warlock...until I snapped the headstock in half two months after buying it :(), being in metal and all. It was a nasty green, but it was wicked cheap, like $150, but I was young and broke. Finally got the money for it and it was gone. I still toy with buying one (they are in reissue as a classic series now), just for that bit of nostalgia. (Of course, a Taylor nylon string is at the top of the list, so I won't)



Speaking of the Taylor, last year I totally fucked up and missed a deal on the aforementioned nylon string. It was going for $800 at a friend's shop, he told my I should buy it...but I balked and when I went back (after coming to my senses), it was gone. Normally a $1400 guitar, and at the top of my guitar wishlist. Damn.