I'm on Team Silverburst 😂 I have Veil of Bees. I find it to be very high in build quality, sound, feel, and playability. They did very well, in my opinion.

I haven’t seen a notification from you in a while and was just today wondering where you are … here you are. Hi, Dave! 🤘🏻

I bought one (the third release) because I genuinely loved the feel, sound and look of the guitar itself - the ebony fretboard, the 70's volute, the antique silver burst (would not have bought a regular silver burst) and the stellar protector case and the pickups. The quality was top notch as well, way better than Gibson (not a high bar, I know). I'm not a collector and not a particular fan of Adam Jones (he's fine but just not one of my idols). The artwork does nothing for me, I'm totally indifferent about it (and it's on the back of the guitar!). It was expensive, I agree - but I like the guitar and thoroughly enjoy it. Notwithstanding all that, I tend to think it was a bit of a flop for Epiphone as there were just too many in the series.

@juanvaldez5422

5 ай бұрын

How can the Epiphone be a “higher bar” than the Gibson Standard when they are not the same guitar ?

@booshting3520

2 ай бұрын

You've clearly never owned a Gibson Les Paul. Put down the Internet and experience guitars for yourself rather than listening to online broke people, bitter that they can't afford the real thing.

@VN9001

2 ай бұрын

@@juanvaldez5422 Quality Control is not model specific. Gibson across the board is pretty poor QC, that's very well documented even on the Gibson discussion boards.

@VN9001

2 ай бұрын

@@booshting3520 I currently own 3 Les Pauls (An R8, a Modern and a Standard 50's). I had to hand pick through many guitars for each model to find one with no glaring flaws. Too many fan boys give Gibson a pass on their lousy QC, citing "they're all like that" etc. Go pick a PRS off the wall and compare it to a random Gibson you pull off the wall. Lets face it, Gibson sells their "B"-stock mixed in with everything else they mass produce and ship out..

@booshting3520

2 ай бұрын

@@VN9001 Massively exaggerated QC problems there. As for PRS, they don't make anywhere near the quantity of guitars that Gibson do, but do a good job. I think all the big brands have problems with final inspection. That said, Gibson attract more heat because they're expensive. I don't think anyone gives them a pass for their problems.

I can see a ton of the art ones for sale in Feb when people want to swap them for the non art one!

I have a Heffernan version…it’s absolutely gorgeous and plays like a dream…it came with a really really nice case too…I have no regrets…

I like the idea of an art collection and having cool images on guitars. The problems here with this AJ collection was: - price - the silverburst finish isn’t most people’s thing - the art they picked is very niche and not appealing to a broad audience of mostly male guitar players. - they made way too many for guitars that won’t appeal to the masses. They probably should have just went with 3-4 different pieces and a plain version. - the art is on the back of the guitar where nobody can enjoy it while the guitarist is playing. That’s pretty silly unless someone wants to hang it on their wall. There should have be designs that are front and center on the front of the guitar and headstock, and perhaps some additional details for the guitarist to enjoy on the back. I absolutely think that this concept would work better with guitarists that have broader appeal both musically and in their artistic tastes. Slash is very racy, but I think he could come up with some PG-13 to R rated artistic concepts - he’s known to create art and draw, and I bet he could make some fun stuff. Kirk Hammet’s Jacksons sell well. James Hetfield actually draws and creates really cool art for their band, and I bet he could come up with some really sick ideas that he could create on his own and would have more mass appeal to Metallica fans and a wider audience who may not even be into that band. I mean, Adam Jones is cool, but most people aren’t Tool fans the same way other guitarists have broader appeal for their music and other pursuits (I am a Tool fan, FYI). You need someone with more mass appeal to sell the guitars. They need to address all of the above. I hope they’ll try again with a better choice of guitarists, better art choices that most people would dig that are visible on the front, with much lower price points (let’s be real, they’re applying a decal with clear coat over it - nobody is sitting there painting the guitars, so they shouldn’t cost more), etc.

Hmm i would have one if it were in the budget but 1300 is more a monthly payment than i can afford sooo at least for me higher prices with the same income just doesnt work

I love the antique silverburst teardrop finish.

I bought one within a few days of finding out they exist around Thanksgiving. I got a used 'Sensation' for $1,085 after tax and shipping, for a $300 discount from the sticker price this was a good deal for me (despite being the most money I've ever spent on a piece of gear by a significant margin) . I was looking at another signature LP burst style guitar, the Bill Kelliher from Mastodons LTD BK-600, but my favorite bands are Tool, then Mastodon so it was an easy decision. I do own an LTD EC-1000 already and I will say that guitar is probably better in every way than the Adam Jones Epiphone. However for me there are some key differences that still make the Epiphone a superb instrument and very inspiring to play. I like that is so beautiful, for me the artwork having huge swaths of blues was appealing and although you can't see it while playing, I do look at it a couple times every practice and the entire silverburst itself is amazingly gorgeous. I have never been a silverburst guy historically but I have fallen in love, especially with the coloring on the back of the neck and the sides of the body and the back of the headstock. My EC-1000 has the active EMG pickups and for me that is not the sound I am going for. Rather than rewire and modifying the guitar to be passive, I am glad I picked up another LP style guitar that has the Seymor Duncan already! I know it's only $100 for the pickup itself, but factor in buying 2, new pots and switch, jack, and paying someone to install and modify it I would be looking at around $400. Ultimately Tool has been my favorite band for 22 years and I am not really into spending my money on their signed posters or other collectors items I won't really appreciate as much as a guitar I will regularly play. However, I would be lying if I didn't buy the guitar as an impulse buy heavily influenced by FOMO. In 10 years I know I would look back and say "damnit I should have got that affordable Adam Jones while I had the chance!" So, I am anticipating the day these are no longer available new for $1299, even if it takes 5 years just so I can say to myself I am glad I pulled the trigger.

I’ve been waiting for the plain one…. But I did not know it was going to have the open book head stock.. thanks for the info Dave. Hey will you do a video leak video of the last artless!?

I got a factory 2nd veil of bees months after its release. Very happy with it.

i knew it was bad when they announced the first one after already saturating the silverburst AND adam jones market at EVERY PRICE LEVEL.

I’d like to see binding over the frets on an epi. Maybe they will do something like that.

@aureliusandthespiral

5 ай бұрын

I would love that, but it would add 300 to the price easy. Probley more

I bought the 'sensation' Epiphone. I purchased it on Black Friday with a €305 discount. I kinda found it cool to have an Adam Jones guitar with an art piece of his wife on the back. It's my first Les Paul and I just love that guitar. The build quality is superb! I'll probably swap the pro-bucker in the neck with a Lollar Imperial humbucker for a subtle warmer tone though.

I thought it was a generally cool idea. However, what would have been killer would have been some releases with Alex Grey's art.

@BrainWasherAttendent

4 ай бұрын

Yeah seems like a missed opportunity. I would have purchased one of those.

John Cougar Melloncamp is an actual painter, but his star has kinda sailed from the building, as they say....

I'm a fan, of Jones and the guitar. I have the Veil of Bees and I love it. But maybe 500 of each model would have been more realistic.

I think the "idea" was great! However, the art selections themselves were the issue. I picked up three of them, the cool ones, and I'm super happy with them. The Veil of Bees was cool because it was the first showing of the concept. The art was unique, cute, innocent, and a bit gothic. Good enough, I'm glad I got that one. Berserker was straight up rock and roll. That's my favorite. Slam dunk, in my opinion, and I picked that one up as well. No regrets. Also, beyond the art, these are really great playing guitars! Then...all of the flowery sh!t started. The next two offerings belong on candles and vases, not Les Pauls. It was obvious through the sales of the first two that the idea was good, and those art choices were appropriate for a rock guitar theme. I bowed out on the next three. All respect to his wife and her talent, but that was the worst choice of all of them to put on a guitar. I waited with baited breath and finally picked up the Anti-Laokoon. Very "Giger-esque". Good choice, looks great! That any of the artists were repeated was a mistake. The final bee art just isn't as cool as the first. I'm skipping that one. I bet the three that sold are the same three I chose for the very reasons I chose them. Can you imagine how fast a guitar with a Vargas, Sorayama, or Boris Vallejo would have sold? Overnight! Even some of Tool's own art. A guitar with the Lateralus skinless man would have looked epic! I would highly recommend the plain version for anyone not wanting the art models. The specs on these guitars are really great!

@kittygundyr267

6 ай бұрын

I have the one with the art work from his wife. True, it's not my favorite art piece but I liked the idea to have an Adam Jomes guitar with a painting from his wife on the back. Then again, when I play it I don't see the back. The art is of less importance to me. These are just great guitars to play! And as as a Tool fan from the 1st hour I just love it to own such a guitar!

I love my Berserker but 7 releases with some lackluster and questionable graphic choices dragged out over a full year was not good decision making.

These guitars are well built and have really good specs I like that they included the volute I own 6 of the 7 I think the one main problem was they did too many of them

I really don't have any input on the Epi models, but the Fire Fly copies sold out quickly. Both drops sold out in one day.

I kept waiting for that Frazetta Sound release, that almost everyone predicted and/or stated was coming... and it it never came. It would've been better than at least half the other designs.

Can epiphone finally do fret end nibs like Gibson does ? Also do an Adam Jones Flying V with fret nibs .

Personally they look great, love Customs, but not silver bursts in general for me. If Epiphone want to do something, I would love a Gold top collection of options, 54,56,57 & for black Customs, yes gold hardware, but with the cream binding, not the standard white. Ultimately though, what about an "Old Black" or a 54 style Custom with the staple P90s / staple pick ups?

It was a good idea but too many versions in a bad economy. Should have went with 3 or 4 then released a plain version. Plain version would sell better imop.

👍👍❤️ love it!

I think a silver burst LP Custom is great!! Just without all that crap on the back

I bought 2 initial versions, unfortunately I didn't bind with the back of the guitar art design and got rid of them. I was hoping for no art version, but if it's going to be $1500 (about $1600 with taxes) I will skip on it. Overall, I think it was great concept, for people who are Adam Jones / Tool fans and wanted guitars with his favorite artwork these were nice guitars. Also, Epiphone was the first maker to undertake such massive art project, I don't recall anyone attempting anything similar (well, ESP with their Kirk Hammett Ouija series comes to mind, but those were identical designs, just different colors).

@aureliusandthespiral

5 ай бұрын

At that price it would make more sense to get a used aj standard

I would’ve loved one but without it being a signature and without the art.

I bought the first one. The Veil of Bees 🐝. That’s all I need.

The lower than expected sales on the Adam Jones art series was probably due to the undesirable art on most of the guitars. Now who would really want a picture of Adam Jones' wife on their guitar? Wrong move. The cooler versions, like the Berserker, sold out fast, so that should tell you what most fans expected.

Yes. Yes, it was.

I like that Korin Faught one but even at £999 I have not been tempted. Perhaps if I see it at £899 I would go for it.

@adge74

5 ай бұрын

Andertons had it for £899, before Christmas. And I couldn't still justify it. Had a look at it in pmt and wasn't a fan of the sensations art work. Maybe now actually it's not a bad deal at all. Keep looking, but I have not seen it since.

Well since Epi is coming out with a new version inspired by with the open book headstock and no art work. I’d rather have that.

1:23 To be fair the date you got was likely correct then they saw your video and changed it to make you wrong.

They would've sold more if he selected art that more people into Tool would've appreciated. I really can't wrap my head around this getting green lit and not including art by Alex Gray, or Adam himself. Some of the choices are just not something folks playing drop D are looking to display or collect.

@Eric_01

6 ай бұрын

Yes ^^^^

@Mike_HuntizWet

6 ай бұрын

Alex art would have been phenomenal!!

@BrainWasherAttendent

4 ай бұрын

Exactly! Some of the art didn’t make sense for a guitar.

Ik heb ze allemaal en vind ze fantastisch .ook heb ik de standaard van gibson

Long and Mcquade in Canada had 1 year before Adam jones model had a exclusive run of silver burst custom Epiphone. But the silver burst was not in a tear drop and was super silver not interesting at all.

I would have bought one if they would have been $800.

😊 Kirk came to our town to pick up his real frazetta a bunch of years ago

I don't think it was a bad idea but it could have been executed better. Paying the retail price for a guitar that has an overlay on the back, not painted is kind of cheap to me. Spec wise they seemed to have nailed that. Making ALL of them Silver, not a good idea even though it was based on a signature artists model. I might pay a discounted price for ONE but definitely not the MSRP. I don't follow Adam Jones so I barely know who he even is.

The guitar it self has to thin a neck for me, so its been a pass for me. But I do like the idea of the art, I just think Epiphone could have released these with much less frequency, maybe on every quarter and done the whole thing over two years. All year its either been Adam Jones or KH Greeny...its very fatiguing. Take a page from JB or JJN one a year.

I think the entire Adam Jones art collection was a good idea especially for the fans out there. You can choose your favorite or buy them all if you want. I can tell you what was a bad idea, The Adam Jones Gibson flying V at $20k! that's a bad idea and Gibson can take a Flying F-ck on that one lol. This is coming from a guy who owns a lot of Gibsons but its crazy to spend 20k without it being vintage.

I love Epiphone’s. All 5 of my guitars are Epiphone’s. That being said-FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, STOP WITH THE SIGNATURE MODELS! Signature models are usually aimed at a niche market. You haven’t done anything with your core line since the IBG rollout in 2020. It’s time to pay some attention to your base customers and stop catering to only those people who think owning a signature model will make them sound like the artist.

I'm buying the non art that's coming out and u should too so we can here both the gibson and the new epiphone les paul custom non art

@mickenziejohnson1240

4 ай бұрын

You should get one of each and sounds comparable video

The main problem was that these art collection guitars didn't fit with the general view guitar players have of Epiphone, a brand aimed towards the average player. These would fit better with the Gibson Custom Shop since Gibson is now a brand for collectors. Besides that, the art they chose seems to be liked by a very small niche of people. Not even Tool or Adam Jones fans seemed to like it (I only liked the Berserker and both Bees models and I'm not a fan BTW). Your idea of having a Kirk Hammet art collection sounds like a better idea, as long as they reach a price point people are comfortable with (1500 USD Epiphones is way too expensive)

I think it was a good idea the way they were released was a mistake the hype and anticipation was high but the wait for release was way too long I think it would’ve gone better if they could have released them when the hype was @ it’s peak and a tighter release in between models I’m seeing one locally used for 900 US but way too long of a wait I would’ve got one or to but I lost interest and that out weighed my gas for one over time

I am coming at yu!

Still no lefty?!?, any word on it?

I feel like Gibson/ Epiphone is trying everything in their power to push players away from the brands.

So yer proud to be a leaker....

I think financially what they did was good. They made epiphones collectible and “rare” They know they can’t compete on price anymore so they are going high with it from now on.

I personally just don't get it. To me, they're display pieces more than anything else. They've got artwork on the back of the guitar, where no one's going to see it unless it's on display, and where, if they're played regularly, that artwork is prone to wear and damage. For those who dig 'em, more power to you.

I think it was a good idea. Just too many of them.

@Eric_01

6 ай бұрын

I agree. 800 of each was a little ambitious. Should've went with 2-300.

Would be nice if companies would stop this limited release shtick to make artificial rarity. It's become rampant in the past 5 years and it's always done with models that would otherwise sell hundreds of thousands if they didn't make them limited quantity.

artwork on a guitar is not like something most people like. even they like the concept of artwork on a guitar they may do not like the speficic art on the guitar. (for example the ones on this guitar models.)

Loved the artwork on these (except for the berserker, that was just too cliché for my liking). But the problem is the fact that it's on guitars. If you place it on the back of the guitar (as is the case), sure you get the artwork as it's intended to be shown but it's on the back where no one can see it. If you place it on the front of the guitar, said artwork is defaced by the instrument's hardware and whatnot. I love silverburst, I love the artwork, but it's not a good match to make it work like that. Anyway, good video, Dave

$1500 for the plain one, not a chance! Do you seriously believe that? What on earth would possibly justify it costing more? The only possible upgrade is a better neck pickup and the Gibson headstock. Maybe locking tuners? At the same time the art premium cost goes away so there's simply no way these will be 1500. I'd be willing to bet they're cheaper than the art series. Unless they are going to be slightly aged or something there's no way to justify raising the price. Gibson and Epiphone have done some stupid shit lately but they're smarter than that. Just think about it!

@fisterroboto1044

6 ай бұрын

it all makes sense what you say, but on the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised at this point

@Douglas_I

6 ай бұрын

@@fisterroboto1044 yeah they have been jacking up prices with no real improvements to the instruments to justify it.

Flop for me. Couldn't get the first and openly lost interest in trying by the second third and forgot about the rest.

All just cash grab for sure, that "Adam Jones" 20k flying V is a joke, collectors item? the guys used a les paul custom for more than 30+ years. How many variants of his guitar is needed. All this from Gibson and Adam have made me sour towards them.

Only Les Paul

Just buy a second hand Gibson. Gibson has done to Epiphone what Nike and Adidas has done to sneakers. Over saturating the market with highly priced guitars that there is low demand for.

It was very cheesy. Just make a propper silverburst and thats it. Don't care about Adam Jones or Kirk.....

As usual "big dave" attempts to use sarcasm for humor, and believes the Epi AJ sigs haven't sold well because of the antique silverburst paint? Close, but no see gar. Multiple factors have led to declining sales of the last 4 custom art versions, specifically. #1 ALL guitars sales are down.#2 They grossly underestimated the importance of the custom art subject matter.#3 The timing was a year too late. And just to prove how wrong he is, I predict the final run of non custom art versions will sell much better, especially if they put this stupid Gibson headstock on it, as rumored? We'll soon find out.