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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Guitars and accessories → Epiphone - Good or Bad?
Hello again,
I have narrowed down my search for a new guitar to either the Epiphone 'EJ200 Cutaway' or the Epiphone 'Dove' (couldn't afford a real Gibson in a million years!!). Only thing is that I have heard a few bad things about Epiphone in terms of bad buzzing on the frets along the majority of the fretboard. is this a common problem that occurs?
Other options are the Takamine EG320Sc or the Yamaha APX700. Hmmmm...choices choices, dis duck or dat duck?!
Hi!
Do you mean the Epiphone EJ-300? Thats the newer version of the J-200 with solid top! If you are thinking about doing it - do it!!! I play this guitar since january 2005 and I really can say it is my favourite!!! I do own a couple of acoustics but I am really thinking about selling all the other guitars. I play most of the time without amplification in front of 20 to 30 people - and this guitar is loud enough to enjoy all of them!
I only had to adjust the fretboard/neck and bridge once - but it is very nice to play this guitar.
And it looks very cool playing the jumbo while your standing.
(I stopped sitting while playing since I do have this guitar <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">
Try it! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink">
hartmaster
I've got an Epiphone Dot, and I love it. It's heavy, but it produces a great tone, and the neck is nimble. No buzzing problems, but those can usually be adjusted out by a shop when you have the guitar set up.
oooh, I hadn't heard of the EJ-300, shall have to take a look! Well, I'm meeting a bloke in one the big music shops here on Weds. I have told him what budget I have and he is going to sit me down with about 6 -7 guitars in my price range and let me have a go ... think I might need to take a sleeping bag as I'll be there all day and night! (always good to get a second pair of ears eh!?) I actually played on a couple of Gibsons and Taylors while I was there the other day ... felt like crying at the knowledge that I couldn't afford one in a million years! Sooo easy to play, even made me sound better than I actually am! I'm not ashamed to admit that the thought of just running out of the shop like a bat out of hell with guitar in hand, did cross my mind!! (joking of course!)
Take a look at the Parkwood acoustic guitars. I have yet to play one but they look well built and reasonably priced (per a guitar center add I recieved. They have a website take a look.
All I have is an Epiphone "DR" series, PR-150; laminated top and all. It needed a neck adjustment that the dealer took care of. NO BUZZ. I put on a set of Martin Light Strings. That improved sound tremendously. Then I had the local shop install a bone saddle & lower the action just a tad. PERFECT. I could only do better if I spent $500 or more. Hope that helps.
I agree with PRISONER as far to the work he had done on his guitar. A good guitar tech can do your set up and make it play much better that an off the floor guitar. But you also have to consider the cost of parts and labor involved. The cost for a set up maybe minimal (my Guild set up cost $45.00) that did not include the cost of the strings. Speak to other musicians about good guitar tech in your area and ask them for referencs. What is the price range that you are looking to spend on a guitar?
I would not suggest the 200, step up at least to the300, or try a Washburn sj28s for all around good stuff.
Cool thanks for that guys! I think I have made a decision. I've fallen in love with a Takamine F360 solid spruce top. It sounds absolutely brilliant and is, by all accounts one of the originals made in Japan before they then started being made in Korea & China. It's going for £399, down from around £650. I love it, I would almost compare it to some of the Gibsons and Taylors that I was playing in the same shop for feel and sound ... and I'm buying it at the weekend but was hoping for a bit of feedback on the guitar itself and the price I'm paying for it please!?
I'm going to take it for granted you reside in either England or Austalia. But do check out this site BEFORE you buy.
<a href="http://www.zagerguitar.com/" target="_blank">http://www.zagerguitar.com/</a>
For about the same price, you can get a hand crafted guitar. See copy & paste below...
The work that goes into a Zager EZ-Play™ Modified Guitar
Each guitar is hand selected by Denny and inspected for wood variations, hairline cracks, surface impurities, bracing irregularities, and any imperfections that could jeopardize the integrity of the instrument in the future.
The nut is re-sculpted and lowered to ensure lower string heights closest to the head with slightly wider string spacing.
The saddle is re-sculpted and filed by hand to ensure even string heights and string spacing on the bottom portion of the neck.
All frets are filed by hand to reduce "string bite" and overall finger fatigue. This also eliminates any buzzing strings.
Braces are shaved for more flexibility in the face which leads to better sound projection for deeper bass and punchy mids and highs.
Nut and saddle heights are coordinated together to conform to new string pressures used for different string gauges and tunings.
All three areas of the neck are orchestrated together to guarantee lower string heights and even side to side string spacing.
Intonation is set to bring the guitar harmonically in balance with itself. This makes each note resonate with clarity and makes your guitar sound more powerful. (It also makes for much easier tuning.)
Each instrument is exactingly readjusted after 7 days to account for settling due to wood variations.
Strings are stretched to insure the stabilization of the final tuning.
The instrument is thoroughly cleaned, hand waxed, and buffed.
Each instrument is autographed on the back by Denny himself
Every guitar undergoes a final fine-tune and inspection by Denny before shipping. (We cannot guarantee your guitar arriving in perfect tune due to temperature changes and vibration during shipping.)
All String Science modification work is done by hand, only by Denny Zager.
Have had a look, they do look like nice guitars to be honest! Thanks for pointing them out to me ... not going to change my mind though! Had a play on some of the other mid-range in the shop and I'm not sure whether it's just that particular guitar, but it completely wiped the floor with most (if not, all) of the other guitars and even most that were much more expensive! In my mind (scary place!) I think that it's a find in a million and cant wait to take it home!
8)Good for you. You picked your git fiddle by feel, gut feelings & Love. Play the heck out of your new baby, and have fun.<font color="tomato"></font><font face="Century"></font>
Cheers mate!! Contrary to what I have said so far about what I am or not getting, (you guys must be well bored of it by now! hehehe) I actually went out yesterday and got a Fender DG22S. The missus made me compromise on price and I (cough) decided to get this for the time being! It was second choice but it looks and plays great! The colour is real light (blonde I think they call it) and the sound is bloody amazing for the price! I feel a bit like I've sold myself down the river, but it means I get to save towards one of the ones that I really want a couple of years down the line! Anyone else have this particular guitar?
<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_surprised.gif" border=0 alt="Surprised"> You will not be unhappy with your Epiphone choice.
The ones who complain are usually the ones who fiddle about with thier guitars and stuff them up.
If you ever have a problem with a good guitar then take it to a good Luthier not the pimmply faced little prick up the road who thinks he knows just because he thinks.
There are so many accomplished "big name" artists that use Epiphone guitars that I reckon the record speaks for itself and no I do not have any affiliation with Epiphone. I just love music and good guitars even though I confess to having an Epiphone Seraton.
Stay Happy and stay with the music.
Bill.
Bill,
Well said in regards to your choice of guitar brand. It is personal preference on what you like in a guitar. If the guitar cost a million dollars it won't matter if you can't play worth your salt. The guitar will still sound terrible. In regards to your comment about guitar work once again your right. Ask other guitar players who may have had work done on their guitars and if they would recommend the repair person. I've had very lousy guitars when I first learned to play due to the lack of finances. But I learned how to play them and when I got enough money to buy a better quality guitar I was that much better. Just play and love what your doing.
Bootleger
Bootleger guitars
I think you should by one them. epiphone is fine <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">
You will love it my sounds great for $200.00 .
Many thanks guys, but I actually ended up buying a blonde coloured Fender DG25S (after much 'negotiating' with the wife on how much I could spend)! Plays really nice to be honest! And it looks real pretty too! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">
HELP i just bought a epipone G-310 SG it also came with a epiphone studio 15R amp the guitar is all black and looks mean. the stats where....
Features:9.26
Quality:8.63
Value:9.26
Overall:9.16
the package contains...
• Alder body
• Bolt-on mahogany neck
• Rosewood fingerboard
• 2 open-coil humbuckers
• Dot inlay
• Tune-o-matic bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece
• Chrome tuners
• Limited lifetime warranty
Studio 15R Amp:
• 8" speaker
• 15 watts
• Reverb
• 2 channels
• FX loop
• Headphone jack
Quartz digital tuner
• 20' premium cable
• Headphones
the wole thing cost me (well my parents 
) 299.99
WAS THIS A GOOD BUY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! oh i bought it off of musicians friends.com
I always thought that they were a lower end Gibson. I am sure they make some good stuff. John Lennon played one
for a few hundred dollars more, i suggest you look into the epiphone Masterbuilt line. these are top-of-the-line epiphones and apparently they put a lot of effort and quality into them. they stack up well against the gibsons (which I can't afford either). i was shocked and amazed when i tried them, and landed on an aj 500 rns, soild soruce top, real rosewood sides and back, etc (look them up). plays and sounds great. loud, bright sound with rich,deep base tomes. i like it a lot better than my more expensive (cheapy) Martin DM -- which has laminated sides and back.
the parkwood is also a good suggestion, and might be my next guitar.
A few years back they used to say that Gibsons came out the front door & Epiphons came out the back door of the same building in Kalamazoo, of course that was when they were all American Made. I have a Epiphone Sorrento, a Single Pickup Hollow Body from the 50's or 60's I think. It has a really great chord/rhythm sound, and I have let a couple of people use it on recordings. I have looked at newer Epiphones and most look to be well built & those that I played had good electronics. Untill I start earning $500 a night I'll have to stay with the affordable guitars.
The only recording gig I've done was a lot of fun, but I want to point out that I used my epi instead of my Martin for most of it. Was it tone or just familiarity? Hmmm. Dont know.
You can have my Epi Texan when you pry my cold, dead fingers from it.
Hello, the Dove has a solid top. The 200 is laminated. A 300 is solid but I could not fine any. So I bought a Dove.Mine is the one made at the Samick plant in Indonesia. Not the China ones.It was set up perfect with the best intonation out of box I have seen. Intonation at 12th. fret was right on.I had both Martin and Breedlove Atlas guitars before.This Epiphone Dove is a little brighter then the Martin sound.But the Dove sounds great as it is stock out of the box.I can get a less brighter tone by going with a string change or bone or tusq saddle.Finish was a beauty and the tuners were grovers. Big improvements in last 2 years I have read. Go with the Dove,or the 300 if you can fine one.
epihone is normally pretty good depending on which guitar. some special models that they use from gibson can be better than the originals.
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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Guitars and accessories → Epiphone - Good or Bad?
