Members Mikeo Posted July 12, 2016 Members Share Posted July 12, 2016 I wouldn't mind for you folks doing a review on the new Epiphone Master-built Century Collection. Especially that Delux Classic or the Zenith. Henry, Jim and Craig should send you a few for a full evaluation. They look cool. I have a Godin 5th Ave with a Godin P90 in it. The new Epiphones look similar, but should sound very different. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ETD2VNNH There's hardshell cases available too http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DELCS [video=youtube;NEjFtxbc0EA] Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 12, 2016 Members Share Posted July 12, 2016 I wouldn't mind seeing a review either. Just from looking I'm put off by the location of the second strap button. It will make the guitar poorly balanced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted July 13, 2016 Members Share Posted July 13, 2016 Isn't Phil a bass player? I don't know. Epiphone was always the red-headed step son of the Gibson line of (already) marginal acoustic guitars. I have zero curiosity about the entire line. The so-called Masterbilt line was anything but. First run new guitars were sporting cracked tops in the stores. What was that all about? Once bitten, twice shy...Gibson had all the time in the world to ensure that Masterbilt line was a quality product but it didn't. It died a slow death due to issues, that could have been prevented, that sabotaged what could have been a decent market share. I'm not even curious about this latest attempt to recapture it. I see it as yet another one of Hanks' pranks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 13, 2016 Members Share Posted July 13, 2016 Isn't Phil a bass player? . . . AFAIK, Phil plays various instruments including bass but he's not primarily a bassist. You're certainly entitled to your opinion of Epiphones but some of us would prefer to wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 Isn't Phil a bass player? Actually, I started playing guitar before I started playing bass... and sax before I started playing guitar... and clarinet before I started playing sax... I play several different instruments. None of them spectacularly, but to quote Garth from Wayne's World, "I like to play." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 For anyone interested in reading the press release, I put it up in HC News a few days ago - here's the link with all the details about the Epiphone Masterbilt Century models... http://www.harmonycentral.com/news/e...ntury-archtops I'll make a couple of phone calls today and see what I can arrange. Thanks for letting me know what you're interested in seeing me review - I find that very helpful, so please don't hesitate to make suggestions in the future folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 PS Did you want me to check out the Zenith or the Zenith Classic? I noticed you mentioned the De Luxe Classic, which is the f-hole model - did you want me to check out the f-hole Zenith or the round-hole version? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 13, 2016 Members Share Posted July 13, 2016 PS Did you want me to check out the Zenith or the Zenith Classic? I noticed you mentioned the De Luxe Classic' date=' which is the f-hole model - did you want me to check out the f-hole Zenith or the round-hole version?[/quote'] Both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verne Andru Posted July 23, 2016 Members Share Posted July 23, 2016 PS Did you want me to check out the Zenith or the Zenith Classic? I noticed you mentioned the De Luxe Classic' date=' which is the f-hole model - did you want me to check out the f-hole Zenith or the round-hole version?[/quote'] Hey Phil - could you ask them about doing tenor versions? The old Epiphone archtop tenors are some of the best made and quite coveted in tenor circles. http://www.tenorguitar.com/images/photos/epiphone/epizenith_1944.jpg http://www.tenorguitar.com/epiphone.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Hey Phil - could you ask them about doing tenor versions? The old Epiphone archtop tenors are some of the best made and quite coveted in tenor circles. http://www.tenorguitar.com/images/photos/epiphone/epizenith_1944.jpg http://www.tenorguitar.com/epiphone.html I can ask / make the suggestion, but I don't know if it will make any difference or not. I can see the archtops having mass appeal, but I'm not sure if tenors would get the same amount of love from modern guitarists. I'm out of the loop, so forgive me asking, but just how big is the tenor scene? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verne Andru Posted July 26, 2016 Members Share Posted July 26, 2016 I can ask / make the suggestion, but I don't know if it will make any difference or not. I can see the archtops having mass appeal, but I'm not sure if tenors would get the same amount of love from modern guitarists. I'm out of the loop, so forgive me asking, but just how big is the tenor scene? Tenors are making a bit of a come-back as of late - there's a sub-forum dedicated to them over at Mandolin Cafe [http://www.mandolincafe.com]. They're cool because they're tuned in 5th's, like violin, cello, mandola, etc. You get tones out of them that are impossible on a regular guitar The generally accepted scale-length is 23" but some are 21". I prefer the shorter scale, but there aren't that many around. Kala is making a 21" tenor guitar, but that's about it for production models. Tenor guitars were created as a transition instrument from tenor banjo. They were usually archtop bodies with smaller necks but evolved into flattops by people such as Martin. Gibson make a number of archtops and Gretch was also big in the tenor game when it was active. More recently, Eastwood has been putting quite a bit into the tenor side with these three models: http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/warre...2p-dlx-cherry/ http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/astro...nor-dlx-white/ http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/classic-tenor-walnut/ Ibanez has a couple acoustics as does Blueridge: Then you're into expensive Collings and custom builds. Nobody is doing a production archtop these days. It would be cool if The Loar did one ala the early Gibson and even cooler if Epiphone offered up some of their classics. These will never hit the large volumes of a Les Paul or a Strat, but they have their place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Thanks for the very informative post Verne! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted July 26, 2016 Moderators Share Posted July 26, 2016 Phil, I would be happy to review the f-hole models, as long as I don't have to pay the shipping back and forth I could even pick them up and drop them off at your place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Hey Daddymack, I've already reviewed the Masterbilt Century De Luxe Classic (the top of the line f-hole model) but maybe we can try to get them to set you up with a loaner of either the Zenith (mid-sized) or the Olympic to check out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Well, as I said to Daddymack, the Epiphone Masterbilt Century De Luxe Classic review is finished, as requested. Here's where you can check it out: http://www.harmonycentral.com/expert-reviews/epiphone-masterbilt-century-de-luxe-classic Please let me know if you have any questions folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted August 15, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 Nice. Thanks a bunch. I'm gonna check it out for real down the road. I have a Godin 5th Ave already, and I was actually thinking about buying a Godin 5th King Pin. The De Luxe Classic looks pretty cool, and so e does there Century 66, which is more like my Godin 5th Ave. [h=1][/h] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Let me know what you think Mikeo, and if you have any questions about the review, feel free to shout out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted August 15, 2016 Moderators Share Posted August 15, 2016 At their discretion...just let me know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted August 15, 2016 Members Share Posted August 15, 2016 Thanks for the review and the heads up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I'm working on it. I'll shoot you a PM soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Thanks for the review and the heads up. Any time! And if there's ever anything else you guys would like for us to review, please let us know. We're always open to suggestions, and they help us to cover the type of stuff that you folks are interested in reading about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verne Andru Posted August 18, 2016 Members Share Posted August 18, 2016 Hey Phil, thanks for the review. I'd like to pass along one comment and one question for ya. Comment - while most recommend stringing an archtop with a floating bridge one string at a time, as you have, that can be a major PITA and doesn't allow for cleaning the top and fretboard very easily, something I always do at string-change time. Owning several mandolins and archtops, I've found using two pieces of painters tape on each foot of the bridge nicely holds it in place allowing all strings to be removed at the same time. The tape doesn't have any adverse effect on the guitar top or bridge and makes string changes soooo much easier while maintaining the bridges position so re-intonating isn't usually required. Question - do you recall if the top was pressed into an arch or carved? I believe they are pressed but would appreciate your first-hand experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted August 19, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 19, 2016 Hey Phil, thanks for the review. I'd like to pass along one comment and one question for ya. Comment - while most recommend stringing an archtop with a floating bridge one string at a time, as you have, that can be a major PITA and doesn't allow for cleaning the top and fretboard very easily, something I always do at string-change time. Owning several mandolins and archtops, I've found using two pieces of painters tape on each foot of the bridge nicely holds it in place allowing all strings to be removed at the same time. The tape doesn't have any adverse effect on the guitar top or bridge and makes string changes soooo much easier while maintaining the bridges position so re-intonating isn't usually required. Question - do you recall if the top was pressed into an arch or carved? I believe they are pressed but would appreciate your first-hand experience. I'm gonna try using that idea. I have a couple floating bridge guitars and a coupe of mandolins.I usually just leave a couple of strings on the instrument when cleaning of changing string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Neal Posted August 19, 2016 Members Share Posted August 19, 2016 I haven't been following the new guitars developed and marketed by the major players lately, but it's good news Epiphone is bringing back the Masterbilt line, the first iteration (proper word?) was really very good, I even owned 2, and felt they were excellent for the price point. Kinda cool the 4stringers are getting some love as well. And excellent advice on the floating bridge-stringing thing. Betting they are pressed from the price point, but that ain't a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verne Andru Posted August 19, 2016 Members Share Posted August 19, 2016 And excellent advice on the floating bridge-stringing thing. Thanks. I'd like to take credit, but it was my luthier who gave me the idea. He's much smarter than me Betting they are pressed from the price point' date=' but that ain't a bad thing.[/quote'] Yes, there have been some nice pressed-top pieces on the market over the years, and some really horrible ones. I have a '60's era Harmony tenor that is pressed and has a great tone with lots of volume and punch. But those Harmony's were hit and miss. I believe Kalamazoo was also primarily pressed as were some of the Kay's. The Loar series is doing carved solid top's for around the same price as these Epi's, so it's certainly doable. With modern cnc gear, a lot of the drudge work can be done by machine leaving final cleanup and tweaking to a real person, which saves a ton of time and money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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