I can't afford a $4,000 guitar (regardless of the name on the headstock) but I'm glad that Epiphone has a couple of high-end models based on their own historical designs as it helps to re-establish the image of the brand as it's own thing rather than just an affordable version of Gibson. One small correction: The founders of Epiphone were of Greek descent, not Turkish, but they started their lutherie business in Ottoman Smyrna before immigrating to the US.
Gorgeous guitar and beautiful playing Chris and Cooper. I like the tone. As to resale, you never know. Five or ten years from now the high end Epiphone may be the rarity that collectors and aficionados crave.
Again I want to say you 2 guys are the best ever. I live in upstate NY (Saratoga). My next guitar and accessories are going to be purchased thru Alamo music store. Thank you all
Hey Cooper, once again your skill charm my hearing, it is such a pleasure to hear you play. I just wished you played for longer. Make that guitar sound so good.
Got one on reverb mint for much less. I’m not a great player, but the sound of the guitar just makes me happy every time I play it. Warning to others who have only owned lower quality guitars before. There’s really no going back after moving up.
I'll be watching for your guitar-matched clothing line coming soon. Thank you for the good news of Copper and Patrick Marr's collaboration on a sweet tune, too. I'll have to ask my son in law what he thinks of this guitar, since he was offered a job as his tour ended at Gibson in Bozeman. (He declined, as he figured he'd better finish his education at Montana State University instead. Go Griz! ) I'm sending him a set of the new Santa Cruz parabolic tension strings to try on his dreadnought.
Sure would be nice to have one. I'll have to settle for my sunburst Epi Hummingbird Studio. $449 . Intonation spot on all the way Grover and stays in tune well. Sounds good plugged in although it is feedback prone a bit and the high e is a little lower volume wise. But over all pretty darn good. Be nice to have one of these though.
I sat for an hour with a Gibson Hummingbird and this Epiphone and as much as I wanted to like the Hummingbird more, the Frontier was better in all aspects; sound, fit and finish, feel, etc. I’ve been GASSING for one ever since.
Ive had the EXACT same experience today at Music Store in Cologne. I played a Gibson J200 and a Gibson Hummingbird against the US Frontier and the Frontier was just miles ahead in every aspect. Crazy. Absolutely crazy! I think i will follow my guts and buy the damn thing first thing monday morning. Jesus Christ, what an incredible guitar!
Pretty nice guitar! Hey, off-topic, I just learned that song that you were playing in the video! You said that you wrote it? I really like it! Good job with it. It has kind of a country/Western vibe to it, it’s super cool. In terms of the guitar I’m playing on, I’m playing on a Epiphone, but not this one… lol I’ve got the inspired by Gibson hummingbird! Fantastic guitar for the money! Really can’t complain. I think Epiphone have really stepped it up as of lately!
I had a 60s Texan and a friend had a Casino. They were great- as good as Gibson. Epi was Greek. The Beatles and Stones , and many others , used them in the early 60s and beyond. They also made good quality guitars in Japan. Gibson "used' their name after buying the Co. out but made really poor Epi's in the 90s. Now they are starting to make better guitars . Vintage Epiphones are insanely good.
I would love to see a comparison with the $4,499 US Epiphone Frontier versus the $899 Masterbilt Epiphone Frontier built in Indonesia or China I would assume. A great guitar without a doubt; but not necessarily in everyone's budget.
Just to clarify, the original U.S. made Epiphone Sheraton was actually ONLY available in the Epiphone range, post-Gibson takeover. BTW: Frontier… cool, cool guitar!
Nice guitar. A year later, what does one think of the Gibson Custom Shop Chris Stapleton Epiphone Frontier with torrified top, double pick guards, and upgraded pick up?
I hope alot sale so it will be around for some time. I live in Arizona and that guitar saids southwest. I got my Epiphone masterbilt DR 400 mnn wich is one of my favorites of my collection.
I have always loved the FT-110. The price is on par with the price of Gibson Acoustics. For $4000, I’d rather pick up a 1964 FT-110. A couple years back I found on in mint condition with the original case and hang tags for $2,500. Unfortunately someone beat me to it….
Epiphone is a great brand. I own a 1959 Les Paul Standard Outfit. If they made that guitar in the US and it was $4,000, I wouldn’t own one. Form over function with this US line. Epiphone’s “lane” is a quality guitar in the sub $1,000 category. Not sure there’s much demand for a $4,000 Epiphone, at that price point wouldn’t the average player buy a Gibson? Just my .02
If it costs $4000 that means it competes with an $8000 dollar guitar or better What a wonderful and exciting time for us guitar players having these second to none pieces of art available
Website states that the body is a Dove body for the USA model, and the Indonesian model has a Frontier body.....Why is that? Makes me believe that the Indonesian model is more true to the original shape. I find it weird that the body shapes would not be listed as the same. Cooper...that guitar was made for you man, your playing is great!
It really is a shame Gibson carried out a hostile takeover of Epiphone, I could only imagine how good Epiphone would be today if they'd been left alone to continue making guitars that were far superior to Gibson's.
The Dove and the Frontier have the same scale length of 25.5 like Fender. PS: The next Epiphone guitar that they need to make in the USA is the Excellente.
I wouldn't pay $4K for an Epiphone. But I wouldn't pay that for a Gibson either. 🤷 Actual critique: sounds like a very "country" guitar. It's one of those guitars that looks like it sounds. Nice deep timbre in the lows and a lot of twang in the highs. That guitar never needs to leave Texas because it's already home. I think it's excellent at what it's designed for, but is absolutely not my kind of guitar.
The price reflects the: Made in USA inscription ... Otherwise, I own an amazing Epi Masterbilt DR400MCE, AllSolid wood, really great playing and sounding guitar, BUT ten times cheaper than this one showed here... this is what people look for in this Epiphones, otherwhise just get a Martin or a Gibson or Taylor or even better a Custom Made for that price point...
The "inspired by gibson" models are all replicas of gibson models. The one I think you mean is the Masterbilt Frontier. I own one. Quite a nice guitar.
The Epiphone Frontier looks beautiful and the frequencies it produces seem to record really nicely but for $4,000 the nut and saddle should be made of unicorn horn.
It aint worth it especially when you compared it with the Indonesian masterbilt Frontier reissue which is a fraction of the cost has similar specs and looks and sounds very similar.
You’d probably get burned on a resale, which is a huge factor people need to consider when buying high end guitars. I don’t see this holding it’s value without a Gibson or Martin or Taylor name on the headstock.
@@tjshultz89 Yes, that was my thinking also. You might be tickled pink with the sound of it and everything else about it, but every time you look at the headstock, you know you're going to take a big hit if and when you decide to sell it.
Who buys a guitar based on resale value? If you're doing that, you're not a player, you're a speculator. Also, who looks at their headstock when they're playing? I'll play anything if it sounds good, regardless of what it says at tbe top.
@@songwriterjj6022 most people who spend that type of money on a guitar (no matter how good it sounds) consider the resell value as a factor. This is not new.
No way would I pay no more than 900 or 1000 dollars for a Epiphone guitar of any kind.If it's so special then you guys buy it for four thousand dollars,You all are getting absolutely nuts.
I can't afford a $4,000 guitar (regardless of the name on the headstock) but I'm glad that Epiphone has a couple of high-end models based on their own historical designs as it helps to re-establish the image of the brand as it's own thing rather than just an affordable version of Gibson. One small correction: The founders of Epiphone were of Greek descent, not Turkish, but they started their lutherie business in Ottoman Smyrna before immigrating to the US.
Thanks for the info brother, I appreciate it!👍
Glad to see you fellas playing different tunes on the demos. Thanks for the review
Gorgeous guitar and beautiful playing Chris and Cooper. I like the tone. As to resale, you never know. Five or ten years from now the high end Epiphone may be the rarity that collectors and aficionados crave.
Cooper! Thomason is an unreal song. Top notch player writing top notch stuff. Always a pleasure to listen to you play.
Thank you so much for the kind words! - Cooper
Again I want to say you 2 guys are the best ever. I live in upstate NY (Saratoga). My next guitar and accessories are going to be purchased thru Alamo music store. Thank you all
I've had mine for a year now, i love this guitar. Plays and sounds beautiful.
That’s awesome, what color you got?
Natural@@jamesjeager129
Hey Cooper, once again your skill charm my hearing, it is such a pleasure to hear you play. I just wished you played for longer. Make that guitar sound so good.
Fellows, thank you for the detailed presentation and description, history.
Cooper you are a fantastic player.
Guitar is brilliant too.
Yay! We get to see both Chris and Cooper play. I’m a Martin fan through and through, but wow this guitar sounds amazing
We're headed full circle...Epiphone is rotating back to the king brand in the stable.
I Love Epiphone and own the 212 12 string style .
Got one on reverb mint for much less. I’m not a great player, but the sound of the guitar just makes me happy every time I play it. Warning to others who have only owned lower quality guitars before. There’s really no going back after moving up.
Never heard of the frontier before! I have an Epiphone EJ-200 and love it😍
Sounds super especially those on the bass strings. It seems like it wants country songs to be played and as always excellent playing from both.
Thank you Chris and Cooper for this review 👍🎶🎶🎶
I'll be watching for your guitar-matched clothing line coming soon. Thank you for the good news of Copper and Patrick Marr's collaboration on a sweet tune, too. I'll have to ask my son in law what he thinks of this guitar, since he was offered a job as his tour ended at Gibson in Bozeman. (He declined, as he figured he'd better finish his education at Montana State University instead. Go Griz! ) I'm sending him a set of the new Santa Cruz parabolic tension strings to try on his dreadnought.
Fantastic love it, wish I could afford it.
Cooper's playing is just ridiculous (in a good, nay, great, way).
Good sounding Epiphone. I care about the guitar's voice and whether I can play the neck. Name doesn't bother me. Thanks Cooper and Chris.
Sure would be nice to have one. I'll have to settle for my sunburst Epi Hummingbird Studio. $449 . Intonation spot on all the way
Grover and stays in tune well. Sounds good plugged in although it is feedback prone a bit and the high e is a little lower volume wise. But over all pretty darn good. Be nice to have one of these though.
Put a sound hole cover in your guitar it will help control feed back
@@danielcole5204 yea thanks I have one and used it . It helped some but still fed back a bit .
Great sounding guitar. I hope it ends up in the studio and on the airwaves...
This guitar sounds out of this world 😳
Bravo guys, great content, keep it goin
I sat for an hour with a Gibson Hummingbird and this Epiphone and as much as I wanted to like the Hummingbird more, the Frontier was better in all aspects; sound, fit and finish, feel, etc. I’ve been GASSING for one ever since.
Ive had the EXACT same experience today at Music Store in Cologne. I played a Gibson J200 and a Gibson Hummingbird against the US Frontier and the Frontier was just miles ahead in every aspect. Crazy. Absolutely crazy! I think i will follow my guts and buy the damn thing first thing monday morning. Jesus Christ, what an incredible guitar!
Pretty nice guitar! Hey, off-topic, I just learned that song that you were playing in the video! You said that you wrote it? I really like it! Good job with it.
It has kind of a country/Western vibe to it, it’s super
cool.
In terms of the guitar I’m playing on, I’m playing on a Epiphone, but not this one… lol
I’ve got the inspired by Gibson hummingbird! Fantastic guitar for the money! Really can’t complain. I think Epiphone have really stepped it up as of lately!
I had a 60s Texan and a friend had a Casino. They were great- as good as Gibson. Epi was Greek. The Beatles and Stones , and many others , used them in the early 60s and beyond. They also made good quality guitars in Japan. Gibson "used' their name after buying the Co. out but made really poor Epi's in the 90s. Now they are starting to make better guitars . Vintage Epiphones are insanely good.
Awesome guitar
Once again Cooper slays it!
I would love to see a comparison with the $4,499 US Epiphone Frontier versus the $899 Masterbilt Epiphone Frontier built in Indonesia or China I would assume. A great guitar without a doubt; but not necessarily in everyone's budget.
Just to clarify, the original U.S. made Epiphone Sheraton was actually ONLY available in the Epiphone range, post-Gibson takeover.
BTW: Frontier… cool, cool guitar!
Why not a side by side comparison of the $849 masterbilt version ?
Would it be redundant to pair this with a j200? Both spruce tops and maple back and sides.
Drool......🤪love Cowboy look. Love to see a natural finish version.
Nice guitar. A year later, what does one think of the Gibson Custom Shop Chris Stapleton Epiphone Frontier with torrified top, double pick guards, and upgraded pick up?
Beautiful guitar
Which microphone you use for the recording ?
I hope alot sale so it will be around for some time. I live in Arizona and that guitar saids southwest. I got my Epiphone masterbilt DR 400 mnn wich is one of my favorites of my collection.
I would have the Masterbilt version of this guitar
I have always loved the FT-110. The price is on par with the price of Gibson Acoustics. For $4000, I’d rather pick up a 1964 FT-110. A couple years back I found on in mint condition with the original case and hang tags for $2,500. Unfortunately someone beat me to it….
Compare the USA to the Masterbilt
Yes more than worth it!
Epiphone is a great brand. I own a 1959 Les Paul Standard Outfit. If they made that guitar in the US and it was $4,000, I wouldn’t own one. Form over function with this US line. Epiphone’s “lane” is a quality guitar in the sub $1,000 category. Not sure there’s much demand for a $4,000 Epiphone, at that price point wouldn’t the average player buy a Gibson? Just my .02
Totally
I’d rather get a used SJ-200 for that price.
@@sc12100 as would just about anyone lol
If it costs $4000 that means it competes with an $8000 dollar guitar or better
What a wonderful and exciting time for us guitar players having these second to none pieces of art available
Website states that the body is a Dove body for the USA model, and the Indonesian model has a Frontier body.....Why is that? Makes me believe that the Indonesian model is more true to the original shape. I find it weird that the body shapes would not be listed as the same. Cooper...that guitar was made for you man, your playing is great!
Regardless of price, I can avoid buying Chinese. I am glad Gibson is making some Epiphones in Bozeman.
That's a lovely sounding guitar and the sunburst is beautiful. A question though, does having such a large pickguard negatively impact the tone?
I liked Epiphone better when I could consider buying one.
Gibson bought epiphone in 1957.
It really is a shame Gibson carried out a hostile takeover of Epiphone, I could only imagine how good Epiphone would be today if they'd been left alone to continue making guitars that were far superior to Gibson's.
The Dove and the Frontier have the same scale length of 25.5 like Fender.
PS: The next Epiphone guitar that they need to make in the USA is the Excellente.
id kill for a USA excellente
@@KellerFkinRyanMe too.
I wouldn't pay $4K for an Epiphone. But I wouldn't pay that for a Gibson either. 🤷
Actual critique: sounds like a very "country" guitar. It's one of those guitars that looks like it sounds. Nice deep timbre in the lows and a lot of twang in the highs. That guitar never needs to leave Texas because it's already home. I think it's excellent at what it's designed for, but is absolutely not my kind of guitar.
Bought my 65 mint one owner closet kept widow sold epiphone frontier for 4k two months before these were released 🤣 score
The price reflects the: Made in USA inscription ... Otherwise, I own an amazing Epi Masterbilt DR400MCE, AllSolid wood, really great playing and sounding guitar, BUT ten times cheaper than this one showed here... this is what people look for in this Epiphones, otherwhise just get a Martin or a Gibson or Taylor or even better a Custom Made for that price point...
Sounds quiet and tinny
Very good guitar. Not for 4000$. The guitar is fantastic, but overpriced.
Sounds good but not $4000 good
Probably not...
So a Dove and Hummingbird got together and called the child frontier.
Noel Gallagher used his 67 frontier alot in the 90’s and early ‘00
th-cam.com/video/FY0oZrxFvdE/w-d-xo.html
That price is some foolishness. I’ll just wait for Gibson to release their inspired by Epiphone model. 😂
Try a inspired by gibson frontier. All solid woods nd made in Indonesia 🇮🇩. One grand.👍
I think you mean masterbilt frontier. There is NO inspired by gibson frontier. Gibson never made a frontier, it was an Epiphone model!
The "inspired by gibson" models are all replicas of gibson models. The one I think you mean is the Masterbilt Frontier. I own one. Quite a nice guitar.
The Epiphone Frontier looks beautiful and the frequencies it produces seem to record really nicely but for $4,000 the nut and saddle should be made of unicorn horn.
It aint worth it especially when you compared it with the Indonesian masterbilt Frontier reissue which is a fraction of the cost has similar specs and looks and sounds very similar.
Hard to believe anyone is going to pay four grand for a guitar with Epiphone on the headstock...
You’d probably get burned on a resale, which is a huge factor people need to consider when buying high end guitars. I don’t see this holding it’s value without a Gibson or Martin or Taylor name on the headstock.
@@tjshultz89 Yes, that was my thinking also. You might be tickled pink with the sound of it and everything else about it, but every time you look at the headstock, you know you're going to take a big hit if and when you decide to sell it.
Solid point.
Who buys a guitar based on resale value? If you're doing that, you're not a player, you're a speculator. Also, who looks at their headstock when they're playing? I'll play anything if it sounds good, regardless of what it says at tbe top.
@@songwriterjj6022 most people who spend that type of money on a guitar (no matter how good it sounds) consider the resell value as a factor. This is not new.
Why oh why doesn't Gibson / Epiphone do away with those ugly tuning knobs. Otherwise; it's a looker for sure.
What?! Thats what i like most about it! Now the headstock and that pickgard, thats a diff story.
Scratching my head...
I thought it was pronounced 'epiphany.'
50k honda civic
No.
Is a $4,000 Epiphone Worth it? NO IT'S NOT
No way would I pay no more than 900 or 1000 dollars for a Epiphone guitar of any kind.If it's so special then you guys buy it for four thousand dollars,You all are getting absolutely nuts.
My ears don't like the tone.
No..its not worth it.