Cesar Gueikian heralds overhaul to bring mid-priced guitars closer to Gibson models
(Image credit: Future)
Despite a PR misfireor two, Gibson has had a positive 2019, overhauling its entire range and bringing it in closer in line with what guitarists actually want - and a surprise statement from CMO Cesar Gueikian indicates there could be good news for Epiphone fans, too.
In a recent Instagram post, Gueikian shared a picture of a host of classic Gibson and Epiphone parts, including scratchplates, pickup selector rings and vintage Epiphone headstocks.
When Instagram user cwwoodhead commented, “You should switch all the Epi headstock[s] to that shape”, Gueikian issued a brief but telling response: “it’s coming”.
A photo posted by @gueikian on Sep 11, 2019 at 4:36pm PDT
For many players, the open-book headstock design that appears on vintage Epiphone models and modern-day Gibson guitars is classier than the slightly blockier Epi variant that tops off the majority of the lower-cost company’s range.
So the news that the entire Epiphone range will now bear a closer - although not identical - resemblance to Gibson’s line-up is most welcome news indeed, and even indicates a vintage-spec’d refresh could be on the cards, along the lines of what Gueikian enacted with Gibson’s well-received 2019 series.
Tellingly, when Epiphone relaunched the Del Rey Double Cut as the DC Pro earlier this year, the company changed the headstock from the Epiphone original to a slightly elongated open-book design.
This could also be a serious power play from Gibson to overtly showcase Epiphone’s Gibson DNA and clearly differentiate it from other mid-priced Les Paul and 335-style guitars - especially in the wake of the company's clampdown on counterfeits, and ongoing lawsuit against Dean Guitars.
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We have one more addendum to that Gueikian post, though: can we get a Fuzz-Tone reissue, too, pretty please?
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.