Greeny on Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/1rdZVx The Epiphone Greeny Les Paul: www.zzounds.com/a--3980673/item--EPIEIGCKH59

It's the unfortunate truth that the logo/headstock plays a big role in the image of a professional guitar player because of subconscious cultural associations. A lot of people think being a headstock snob is a status thing (which it may be) but it's actually genuinely important for a guitarist's personal brand to be associated with the community of other name-brand players rather than amateurs or hobbyists. Being talented doesn't hurt, but it's branding/marketability/image that actually makes or breaks a career, and presenting a certain level of professionalism can absolutely play a huge part in that. Thats why as a professional, when I play cheap guitars, I try to go for guitars that aren't perceived as the cheaper alternative to something else like epi/squire type brands, clones with a different headstock, etc. There are a ton of brands and models that are smaller and unique to themselves without any negative subconscious biases attached and they are just as good!

I own epiphone guitars and nevermind the headstocks, its the feel of the neck matters

I’m unfortunately a headstock snob, and I can’t really help it. I wasn’t always this way. I think it changed when I got to a place where I could start buying higher end guitars. However I still recommend tons of guitars to beginners or people on budgets that I would pass on solely based on the headstock.

I love my old style headstock Epiphone Les Paul guitars. I feel there's something more punk about them. Noel Gallagher used one on his first album Definitely Maybe.

I’d be more interested in the angle of the headstock than the aesthetics of the headstock.

I have a SG special Epiphone that is a total chopper and love it to death! I moded everything on/ in it

People keep saying Squier uses the Fender headstock but Epiphone was it's own brand before the modern import versions and never used a Gibson headstock. So the "newer" old Kalamazoo shapes would be more appropriate . Squier was started as a cheaper version of Fender company. Gibson bought Epiphone back then because they were competition .

Yes, I do !

I own many Epiphones with the old “clipped” wings headstocks, & I have Gibsons with the “open book” headstock, & the distinction never bothered me. I love the new Kalamazoo headstock Epiphone has, & now I prolly won’t buy an Epiphone if it has the old style. I actually picked up the Epiphone Greeny today, & while the Gibson style headstock looks great, I probably would have still bought it even if it would have had the Kalamazoo headstock, because I collect Epi signature models, & this model is a must have. It’s not that big of a deal to me. I think Gibson purposefully kept the headstock different on the older Epis to maintain that distinction, but I know a lot of people who would have bought Epiphones, but they hated the old headstocks. I think the new CEO realizes this, & is making this change. What many people don’t realize is there’s budget guitars under the names of either Baldwin or Maestro by Gibson, & these are super cheap beginner student guitars in the sub $100 range with bolt on necks & crappy hardware, & THEY have always had the Gibson style open book headstocks! Go figure. So I guess I’m kind of a snob now that I favor the Kalamazoo headstock over the clipped wing, but Epiphones having the open book on the headstock isn’t really a big deal to me. I actually like the Kalamazoo headstocks better even than the open book & I wouldn’t mind if Epiphone just continued using the Kalamazoo lol

I've been wishing for this for years. I've always felt the epiphone headstock was far uglier than the gibson ones. This is great! I do think certain guitars should have the old epiphone headstock though, like their casinos and such. But on a les paul it SHOULD be the gibson shape.

I love the open book headstock that Gibson has. The only guitar I would pay for the Gibson moniker tho is the SG. I just love SGs, and I think they look so good with the Gibson headstock. But I love epiphone. I don’t care about the headstock tho I like the newer Epi ones. I have a 60s epi LP. And besides, the Beatles used Epiphone haha. The reason I would buy this epi greeny is because it has that great shape but without the “Les Paul” silk screen. It looks so good just plain black. Great video btw 👏👏👏

Little do people know but Les Paul himself originally was an Epiphone guy

yes

Bought a Les Paul Junior. It looks great. Like a true Junior. I bought it for it's rock and roll pedigree, but the headstock and finish add to the appreciation of the guitar. I also have a Harley Benton model. Great little guitar too. The Gibson scratched my itch for an American made model like my American made Fender model. Bucket list time as I age. I'm a bedroom player so nobody is going to see my collection anyway.

For status, the logo, model and materials matter. For playing not so much as long as the tone and playing is great.

I play Epiphone Wildkat and a Sheraton. Epiphone headstock on the Wildkat looks really cool tho, not so sure about the Sheraton. I might prefer Gibson 335's headstock over sheraton, but it's purely aesthetic reasons. Sheraton's headstock feels like it's too big, heavy and overdone. The name on the headstock doesn't concern me much

could you make an epiphone sound like a 59 les paul, i believe you could givin the right type of make over, yk pickups and pots and caps, all that jazz. can you make an epi look like a 59 lp, not a chance. this is a good middle ground

Have a new Epi 59 LP, and two Gibson LPs. The epi kalamazoo headstock is unique and importantly it plays great. That’s all that matters.

I'm such a snob in fact that the shape alone isn't enough. I also need the Gibson logo if I am to buy a Les Paul.

Nicest headstock is on an Epiphone Blackthorne, an 'affordable' archtop from the 1940s - almost Perrless like, with nearly straight string paths. More sensible than the Les Paul headstock which is too wide and too steep.

according to Mat Koehler (Gibson Brands VP) The Gibson open-book headstock will be featured only on Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Shop models going forward while Epiphone standard models will continue to use the current Kalmazoo headstock 🍺🇨🇦

I hate to admit it, but I am definitely a headstock snob. That Epiphone headstock shape just gives me shivers, do not know why, I guess the years of reading articles and watching videos has turned me. But Epiphones are fantastic guitars, no doubt about that.

Yes I am, and I'm o.k. with it.

I'm more concerned with how much they want to charge for the thing.

Fender and Squier use the same headstock. Gibson and Epiphone should too

Yes I care about the headstock, I won’t by a Fender Strat with the bigger headstock. I want a Les Paul gold top but I don’t want to pay $3,000, but Epiphone headstock doesn’t appeal to me.

YES I ALWAYS CARED not about this guitar despite me liking Kirk hammett but cos i always preferred and loved the open book Gibson style headstock inifinite times much more than the abortion of ugliness that epiphone used to do thanks to the SKYGODS they are changing that since 2 years ago i start developing huge appreciation for some Epis such Black custom SG and Black Beauty custom Les paul etc

Love the new Gibson Headstock on the Epiphone, that headstock is iconic to a Les Paul and looks great.

Even if epiphone just made a whole new headstock that isn’t the traditional epiphone one they’d boost sales. They’ve made great strides but it’s still a goofy headstock. Doesn’t matter how you dress it up. 😂 I bought a es335 pro with the newer headstock and it’s a great guitar, and the headstock looks way better.

If it doesn't say Gibson on the headstock it is not worth $1500. Been shopping for used Gibson Les Paul 60's standard and for a few hundred dollars more you can grab a mint Gibson standard. By the way I have the Epi '59 standard lemon burst basically the same guitar for half the price.

Epiphone headstock should be kept the original way. I don't wanna the headstock breakage!

Yes, yes I am, a headstock snob. 😉🤣With one caveat, Playing at home, no. Playing out, yes. A perfect example, I have an Eastman SB 55V and a new Gibson Les Paul Junior and there is no way in heck I would play the Eastman at a gig. It's just the way it is.

Yes!!! And over the top…great video and question. A headstock that I consider horrendous, would stop me from Playing or buying it. Example BC Rich and that atrocious Widow headstock. Nope! Dean As Well. I don’t even like the bigger 70’s Strat headstocks None of these headstocks “fit” on these guitars and just makes them look rather dumb. The Epiphone headstock has stopped Me from owning an Epiphone (I own quite a few Gibson’s ) but this Greeny has me interested with the correct headstock (i work at a guitar store and we just got these and I’m quite impressed with them because of the correct headstock. As well as the new Kirk Hammet V’s they are correct as well. Yea I guess I AM a Headstock Snob…😂😂😂

Imo it will only increase the desirability of the brand. Headstock shape is important to me. There are some beautifully spec's guitars with absolutely shocking Headstock designs. Take Sire for example. The headstock looks like it's been cut by an 11 year old in woodworking class!

I yam who I yam. I prefer the old headstock

I am. Unfortunately. 🤷🏻‍♂️

No I don't care. I have Fender Strats, Tellys , a Gibson Firebird, and an Epiphone Gold Top L.P. The Epiphone sounds great. Sound matters more then the shape of the headstock or name. John Lennon played Epiphones. He didn't seem to mind.

Couldn't care less for the headstock. If it helps functionality, great! Don't care how it looks.

i prefer the. original. Epi headstock, more authentic even on les pauls, i guess it gave a real identity to Epiphone guitars.... that "Gibson". Epi headstock. on Greeny doesn't look right to me and the finish is weird..... too yellowish which is not how greeny. was when Peter had it

Well nevermind the headstock, I don’t expect to be that price😂

Insane. This "Greeny" is a marketing scam. The Epi 1959 Les Paul Standard Outfit for $750.00 was a screaming deal - and came with a plush hardshell case! Most people you are playing for wouldn't know one headstock from another. It's in YOUR head.

Get that Gibson disgusting headstock off that beautiful Epiphone..here we go again first it was Norlin that ruined Epiphone quality..then 2019 JC curliegh restored Epiphone back to where they should have always been..2023 Gibson trying to ruin epiphone once again

New to the channel- im more an amp snob, and by that i mean - please dont bring a full stack… imma judge you hard. You’re not evh.

I think most people hate the old Epiphone headstock not because it was different from the Gibson headstock but because it just wan't a good design. It was ugly. The new E. headstock is what they always should have : Gibson-is but not the same. Now, with the G. headstock on the Epiphone Greeny I wonder if Epiphone is gonna Disney it and start alienate buyers by going down a rabbit hole of ever changing headstocks.

$1,500 for a Chinese made Epiphone? I'll pass or save up for the Gibson one. As far as the headstock, I like that Epiphone is using the Gibson "book" headstock.

I only really care because it's stupid that Gibson-derived Epiphones ever had an Epiphone headstock in the first place, as they're not traditional Epiphones, they're cheap(er!) versions of Gibsons. Actual Epiphone models like the Sheraton, etc? No problems with the Epi headstock on those.

I definitely care- the epi headstocks are the reason ive never owned one- come on gibson- just let it happen. We need this to be a permanent new thing!

I am not a headstock snob. I'm a man that appreciates beauty, gaudiness, and horrific taste. Epiphone Les Paul headstocks are the ugliest of any mass produced guitar from any of the big brands. It didn't stop me from buying one, but it is ugly.

Who cares about the headstock? It’s the price tag that is of more concern. It’s preposterous.

Nope, don’t care at all what’s on the headstock.

They're selling a Chinese Epiphone for more than the lowest priced US Gibson, and you're suggesting that 'headstock snobs' are more interested in the shape of it rather than the name on it or the price tag? Ultimately, it's time for people to grow up. I hear people talk about 'gigable guitars', when what they mean is 'guitars I wish to be seen playing on stage'. Either learn to play a good guitar well, or don't, but don't pretend to yourself that the name on the headstock, its shape, it's colour, the country of manufacture or any other marketing BS you've been sold, determines its playability, tonal capabilities or your chances of being regarded favourably for playing it. Vacuous materialism abounds!

Snob, I don't know. The headstock shape does not make the Epiphone a Gibson, but, it does water down the value of real Gibsons

Whats a headstock? 🤪