Epiphone Masterbilt question

I have a Masterbuilt DR 500M and also have a J-45 Gibson and a HD-28 Martin. The Masterbuilt has the best action of the three and has the best neck and also sounds wonderful. I play it alot and would have a very hard time parting with it. The Masterbuilt quality varies so its best to try before you buy. If you find a good one, it will hold up against some of the Best Guitars out there.

Wayne P

Thanks everyone for your input, but my concern is not with the guitar but with the pickup. Here's an example of Esonic problems described on a Gibson forum:

"I've had an Epiphone AJ-500RE for almost a month now and have had it well set up in that time. I'm impressed with the build quality of the guitar itself as well as with the tone. It's a lovely guitar. There seems to be a problem with the eSonic2 pick-up system though. Like many on the forum, I'm getting a mains type grounding buzz at times... it seems to happen when I'm playing the bass strings very heavily and the buzz just cuts in. Sometimes it just goes away quickly and at other times it stays. When it stays it goes away temporarily when I touch the strings so it would seem to be some kind of grounding problem. So far I've just used the middle end-pin jack that should be providing the blended signal. Even when there is no buzz, there is such a low signal from the Mag pick-up and it's hard to blend the two together successfully. If I slide the blend right over to the Mag pick-up there is very little signal then I only have to slide it over towards the other side a little and the bridge pick-up comes in very loudly and I can hardly hear the Mag pick-up."

The esonic system is about 10 times more advanced than the simple but problem free pickup on my cheapo Applause (no battery required and just two faders, one for tone and one for volume). IF I ever got the money, I was thinking I could buy an acoustic Masterbilt and then add some kind of simple pickup on my own. Any thoughts?

p.s. Naolager, I've tired some Recording Kings and think they are very nice, it's just that I like the feel, style, and sound of the Masterbilt Jumbo best.

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't heard of this brand before. Any other recommendations regarding add-on pickup?

I would buy an acoustic guitar without electronics, simply because most makers chop a hole in the top of the guitar and install a lower end set of electronics usually a big piece of plastic  and UST pickup.
When the time comes you can chose from a variety of very good pickups that don't require chopping holes in your guitar. The B-Band is kind of spendy around $ 200. A pickup I installed in my Martin is a LR Baggs I-Beam and it is around $ 90. and is very good. I am sure others have favorites to. I also have a LR Baggs Anthem SL and it is also Around $ 200.
A good Acoustic amp makes a huge difference and there are alot of good ones out there now. Marshall AS 50R is great , The new Fender Acoustasonic 50 and 100 , I've tried them both and they are very nice. The Marshall 50 and Fender Acoustasonic are both under $ 400 and are good enough for Doing most Acoustic Gigs.

Wayne P