Edwards vs Gibson

[Le Kris]

Greetings from Norway! I´m new here at the forum.
I have an Ibanez RG 321 and I´m looking for a second guitar. Gibson Les Paul have always been a personal favourite of mine until I discovered the Edwards E-LP-98-LTC and all the good words buyers have to say about it.
Can anyone help me to compare a brand new Les Paul Studio with the Edwards E-LP-98-LTC.
What would you choose?

Thank´s!

[DotNetTim]

Greetings from the US. I don't know about the Edwards, which I understand from looking on **** are made by ESP, but I do know that Gibson's are very good! I've never, EVER, had a bad gibson that wasn't used big time.. Even some of the used guitars I've had by Gibson that have been abused have had the best sound, and rang correctly, etc.. Gibson seems to use cool woods and they have so much experience at it.. I just trust them.. Of course, everyone knows that the US produces the best guitars in the world.. hehe..

Tim

[jemaholic]

Ed-who?

Heres my point:
Gibsons are known all over the world and hold their value, which means you won't lose your investment. If you don't care about the money go buy whatever feels the best to you - just make it your last ever purchase.

At least with the Gibson you have trade-bait in a year.

-jemaholic

[scotte_za]

I remember elcid having an Edwards Les Paul. I would ask him about it if i were you

[mfergel]

Well, I've heard nothing but good things about Edwards. As for being known all over the world, just because something isn't known in the US doesn't mean it isn't known "all over the world". The reason Edwards aren't available in the US is because Gibson won't allow them to sell here because the quality is such that it would take a big chunk out of Gibson's sales. Am I crapping on Gibson? NO, I've owned several and still own one but don't let anyone tell you that they are the be all/end all of guitars. My Agiles are nearly as nice as my current Gibson and cost 3 times less. I'd consider an Edwards myself but I don't want to have to order from overseas and you can rarely find a used one (which should tell you that people don't get rid of them when they get one).

[rgr]

Since no one else here has a good point of reference, I'll chip in. I've had a Gibson LPC, an Edwards Sykes Model, and my current LP is an Orville (Gibson Japan) model.

Quite honestly, the Gibson was nice, the Edwards played just as good, had a slightly thinner neck, and came loaded with real Duncan pickups. My favorite is the Orville though. They were Gibson authorized, MIJ guitars, made in the 80s and 90s when all the lawsuit copies of Gibsons and Fenders (Tokai, Burny, Greco, etc...) were being made as well or better than the real things and being sold in Japan.

As far as value, a real Gibson LP Standard or Custom will hold it's value pretty well, especially if you buy it used, a Studio, maybe if you get a good deal on a used one. If you buy a new Studio, expect it to drop a few hundred when you sell it. The Edwards seem to have gone up a little in the last year or so, but they are still good deals, I definitely prefer them to the Studios. As far as holding their value, they will hold it as well or better than a Studio, not as well as a Std or Custom, but we're talking 1/2 to 1/3 the price of those also so it's not really apples to apples. The only downside to the Edwards is that you can only get them in Japan so the shipping is a little pricey.

Originally Posted by mfergel

The reason Edwards aren't available in the US is because Gibson won't allow them to sell here because the quality is such that it would take a big chunk out of Gibson's sales.

No, competition is not the reason the Edwards are not sold in the US, it's copyright laws, the Edwards are pretty much direct copies which would infringe on Gibson's copyrights.

If it was me, I would also search for some older MIJ Burnys, Grecos, and Orvilles in good shape, but I definitely wouldn't rule out the Edwards.

Hope this helps

[Tank]

Having owned a Gibson LP Std and a Cstm. I can say that they hold their value pretty well and are awesome products, the lesser models are not as good (Studio / JR) and I consider them very overpriced as several even Epiphone Stds play better with new pickups.
The Tokai copies are very very nice and you should consider them.
Sadly I cannot comment on the Edwards as I never played one.

[Le Kris]

Thank´s for the answers!
It´s correct that the Edwards is only to be sold in Japan, but I came over one at a swedish webshop. The price is apx 1200$. That incl. shipping to my home adress 91$ and norwegian taxes. A new LP Studio is priced to 1550$ here in Norway and a little more expensive in Sweden. The Edwards has Seymour Duncan 59 and JB pickups, aged bindings and looks very cool. The guy at the webshop says it´s a Studio-killer, and looks, plays og sounds just like a original Gibson LP Custom. So I think this will be the one......

[reguv760]

thought I'd share some visuals for Edwards:
this is from the 2002 Japanese ESP catalog within the Edwards section... I guess this is the older version of the E-LP-98-LTC?
Looks like a solid guitar although I have no idea what the text is saying other than something about Seymour '59s and a JB.



Reg

[Le Kris]

Thank´s judasbane! Nice photos. How do I attach images to the thread?

[reguv760]

anytime... use the codes "[img ]http://..../myImage.jpg[/img ]"
no spaces or quote marks for the img tag.

Reg

[reguv760]

I'm posting on behalf of Le Kris in which states:

"Here is a photo from the dealers web-site. Sorry for the “labels” hiding some part of the neck, but I think its only some information about the guitar there.
Nice looking?"

[elcid]

I was going to stay out of this because Gibson threads usually turn into Gibson Bashing threads, but this hasnt so here goes. Both are nice guitars. I had an Edwards that I just sold on the unmentionable auction site. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it, I just needed money. For what a Studio would cost you I would go with the Edwards, and that's comming from a die hard Gibson guy. For the sales guy to tell you an Edwards plays and sounds like an original LP Custom is is an outright lie, but dont take that as Edwards is garbage.

[quiksilverdew]

If you want a really nice guitar and plan on keeping it for life, get the Edwards. If you want an OK guitar and plan on having it as an investment or plan on selling down the line, get the Gibson. They both sound and play very differently but I'd almost guarantee that the Edwards is crafted FAR better.