Epiphone Masterbilt's issues

[C70man]

Should I worry about all the issues I have seen about EpiMasterbilts?

I mean, Ebay is loaded with repaired rebuilts, with cracked tops and replaced nuts, etc.

 

Here's my concern...I have finally decided on the best guitar for my money, and prefering the sound and feel of the Masterbilts, I want to feel "good" about buying one. So, should i be worrying about its ability to hold up...I know its not a lot of money for a guitar, but I would like to think I could own it for awhile.

 

Is there a good enough way to really tell if a guitar is going to hold up? I can't really tell by looking, so I'm concerned.

 

Or should I buy a used Guild from the 70's for $700-800?

 

Am I being stupid or what?

[Bernie P.]

Any solid wood git will crack if not properly cared for either from high or low humidity.Several members here have had this occur with Martins,Taylors,you name it.Its NOT a brand issue.I have had a EF500RA for a while now and so long as I do my part it will last as long as any.

[dhoenisch]

I think some folks have the mindset that if you play less than a grand for an instrument, you don't have to take as good of care of it. Well, that seems to be what I've noticed amongst others. If you notice on eBay, look at all the more expensive guitars, you will rarely see one messed up.

 

Dan

[missedmyexit]

 

I think some folks have the mindset that if you play less than a grand for an instrument, you don't have to take as good of care of it. Well, that seems to be what I've noticed amongst others. If you notice on eBay, look at all the more expensive guitars, you will rarely see one messed up. Dan

 

 

+1 Any all solid wood instrument can crack if not cared for properly. I think this is likely people not realizing that the Masterbilt is different from the laminate guitars they previously owned.

[rjoxyz]

I have an Epi Masterbilt AJ500M, along with a few other all solid wood guitars. I am pretty diligent about humidity control. Given the lower cost of the Masterbilt series, I can imagine not being as motivated to take good care of it as others. It is well, but lightly built (a good thing), so needs to be looked after properly. I really don't think this is an issue unique to the line.

[guitarist21]

Is there a good enough way to really tell if a guitar is going to hold up? I can't really tell by looking, so I'm concerned. Or should I buy a used Guild from the 70's for $700-800? Am I being stupid or what?

 

Okay, as a profoundly biased Masterbilt owner, here are my thoughts. First of all, everyone is exactly right in saying that its a solid wood guitar. And since they are inexpensive, the Masterbilts are many people's first solid wood guitars and they may not be taking care of them properly.

 

I use my Masterbilt for almost all the acoustic gigs I play, on stage and in the studio. I'm notorious for putting my gear through a lot of crap and the Masterbilt has held up as well or better than any guitar I've played. I really think that if you go out and get a Guild from the '70s, while they are great guitars in many cases, you're going to encounter more structural issues than you would with a Masterbilt.

 

Ellen

[bsman]

 

I really think that if you go out and get a Guild from the '70s, while they are great guitars in many cases, you're going to encounter more structural issues than you would with a Masterbilt. Ellen

 

 

 

I don't know, Ellen. Every Guild from that period I've picked up (OK - a grand total of four) was built like a tank. I don't have a Guild, so I don't have a particular bias, but if I had to pick a (wooden) guitar I figured was likely to survive anything I threw at it, Guild would be very high on my list.

[C70man]

Thanks, All of your comments have certainly helped me get past the oh-oh and oh-no feelings I have been experiencing. Maybe it comes from laying out the money for a guitar that has so little history in the guitar field versus a Guild I am currently bidding on. If the Guild goes too high, I'm going to buy a new Epi. I do love the sound and feel of that instrument...Just hate supporting that trade deficit.

[Hudman]

Keep in mind that a 30 year old guitar may need a neck reset some time in the near future.

[jd-drafter]

 

Keep in mind that a 30 year old guitar may need a neck reset some time in the near future.

 

 

or you will need to learn how to play slide... 8^)

 

just kidding- every time i hear the term neck reset i just imagine a slide...

 

and work is really boring today... forgive me...

[Howie22]

I bought an AJ500MNA about a week ago. It seemed nice enough, and has a nice sound. However, upon getting it home, I'm noticing more "flaws" than I did in the store.

 

The nut is cut/shaped wrong to start with. The body binding doesn't seem to meet up properly in some areas. The soundhole seems to be misshaped a bit, and there is something amiss about the way the soundhole meets up with the fretboard.

 

All cosmetic problems, but they just bother me. Makes me wonder about overall quality.

 

Since there's a "30 Day Guarantee," it's going back to the store.

[C70man]

 

Keep in mind that a 30 year old guitar may need a neck reset some time in the near future.

 

 

Question: Do all "vintage" guitars require neck resets? And if so, how can you tell? If it sounds good, plays good, and has a straight neck, is it still suspect of a reset?

[pathofspirit]

Another masterbilt owner - AJ500M - I love it and have had zero problems with it. Granted; I take care of it as you should any good guitar.

 

BTW - one of the reasons I settled on this particular guitar is that it got a nice mellow sound. I recently put a set of Elixir Nanos on it - it sounds better than ever!