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Epiphone Masterbuilt EF-500M VS. Martin DX1K


KATMAN

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Posted

These guitars have the same shape,same price.Only difference is the Masterbuilt is all wood and only the top is solid on the Martin.Which one would be a better guitar for the price? True,the Epiphone may be constructed better(maybe) but the Martin carrys the name and possible resale vaule. Which one would be a better buy?

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r=rosewood

m=mahogany

 

I say Epi. Those weird pressboard and printed wood patterns weird me out on the DX. And this is just my opinion, but the resale would be just as good on that Epi as on a DX...some people wouldn't ever consider buying a DX.

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r=rosewood

m=mahogany


I say Epi. Those weird pressboard and printed wood patterns weird me out on the DX. And this is just my opinion, but the resale would be just as good on that Epi as on a DX...some people wouldn't ever consider buying a DX.

 

 

Yeah,I remembered I did play one and it felt weird to me.The Epiphone Masterbuilt M series I really like a lot,I'd like to see it in person and choose which model to choose from though.After reading MF's description of the Dx1K,I don't think they were truthful.

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These guitars have the same shape,same price.Only difference is the Masterbuilt is all wood and only the top is solid on the Martin.Which one would be a better guitar for the price? True,the Epiphone may be constructed better(maybe) but the Martin carrys the name and possible resale vaule. Which one would be a better buy?

 

 

Buy the Epi and save up for a Martin that's higher in the Martin line. That's what I'm doing.

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I will most likely do that,thanks to you all. I'm looking for a guitar that I can play without a amp,and I believe the Epiphone Masterbuilt is the one capabale of that.Looking them over,I really like vinatage sunburst colored rosewood model. Thanks all!

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Posted

I've tried both and they're two completely different guitars. The 000X might be a closer approximate to the EF-500R, though I've never played that particular model Martin.

 

The EF-500R is basically an OM with solid EIR back & sides/sitka spruce top. It's got a strong midrange that gives the impression of a louder voice. The neck is vee shaped with a wider 1.75" fretboard. IMO it is ideal for fingerpicking but not so much for strumming. I played a vintage-sunburst model a couple of years ago and marveled at its quality, the comfort of the v-shaped neck and the strong presence that its volume conveyed. I A/B'd with a Larrivee L-03R (a larger guitar that is sort of a mini-jumbo in size with solid EIR back & sides/solid sitka spruce top) and the EF seemed to actually be louder.

 

OTOH, the DX is a HPL back & side/spruce topped dread. Even though the back and sides are a syntethic it has some sort of graphic overlay so that it resembles real wood. Even so, it seems to retain that traditional bass-heavy Martin dread tone, which is most likely due to the solid wood top and the bracing pattern beneath. I believe the neck is the modified low oval variety with the typical dread 1 & 11/16" wide nut. I gave one a go recently and thought it was a good starter guitar if you're into strumming, but for fingerstyle the narrower string spacing/fretboard might be a little tight for any precision. IMO it would make a good no-nonsense starter, campfire or travel guitar.

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In this price range I'd go with the Epi. As far as the Martin resale value, that comes more in to play with their higher end models. I've played the Martin DX1k and liked it, but owned a Epi Masterbilt a while back and loved it. Save the Martin until you're able to move up into the higher end models; then you'll get to go crazy picking between the other brands/models that will come in to play in that price range. :)

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