Members scolfax Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Epiphone has had it's ups and downs quality-wise. In the past few years they have opened up a dedicated factory in China. I've seen quite a few Epiphone NGD's here lately, which made me curious. I'll start with the assumption that they know how to make a guitar look good. But what's the consensus on the quality of MIC Epiphones made in the past year? Looks good but still cheap? Best they've ever done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 You're looking for consensus on HCEG? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 You're looking for consensus on HCEG? This thread will range from 'all epis are {censored}e, and will never be anywhere as good as a real gibson' to 'every epi is the best guitar ever, especially for the price'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 This thread will range from 'all epis are {censored}e, and will never be anywhere as good as a real gibson' to 'every epi is the best guitar ever, especially for the price'. You forgot the guys that will tell you to toss every Epi in favor of Agile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Probably depends who you ask. I have a 90s MIK, early 2000s MIIndonesia and two recent MIC models. Don't see much difference between the MIK and the MIC models at all. My newest one has upgraded parts that none of the others have. Full size pots, Grover tuners, good pickups and nickel plated hardware. When looking for my new one, I tried out four just alike. The first three were good but I liked the finish way better on the last one. Not for QC issues; it was just a different shade. My new one was set up very well, good fretwork, etc. I think Epis are as good as they've been since leaving Kalamazoo. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Is it a Gibson? No. Can you get a Gibson for $300 brand new? No. I can live with that. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Probably depends who you ask. I have a 90s MIK, early 2000s MIIndonesia and two recent MIC models. Don't see much difference between the MIK and the MIC models at all. My newest one has upgraded parts that none of the others have. Full size pots, Grover tuners, good pickups and nickel plated hardware. When looking for my new one, I tried out four just alike. The first three were good but I liked the finish way better on the last one. Not for QC issues; it was just a different shade. My new one was set up very well, good fretwork, etc. I think Epis are as good as they've been since leaving Kalamazoo. EG I also don't see much difference between MIK and MIC... I suspect it's just a different form of snobbery in most cases. I have two MIK Epiphones and one MIC. All are built well - they look, feel, and sound great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 There were repoprts around that the early MIC models were pretty spotty. It seems they have it down pretty good now. I can't see any difference between a modern Epi and any other similarly priced import. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PunkKitty Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I bought this Epiphone Dot Studio last week from GC. The quality is easily as good as my Ibanez Artcore. It might even be better. The stock electronics are definitely better than those in the Artcore. The quality is on par with my Gibson Melody Maker IMHO. But not as good as my Gibson 50's Tribute. This guitar really changed how I look at Epiphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I think that most of the budget-priced guitars (e.g. Epi, Squier, etc.) are the best they've ever been. It's getting to the point that it's hard to find a real dog out there. Today's new, budget-conscious guitarists are so much better off than those of us starting back 30 or 40 years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I think that most of the budget-priced guitars (e.g. Epi, Squier, etc.) are the best they've ever been. It's getting to the point that it's hard to find a real dog out there. Today's new, budget-conscious guitarists are so much better off than those of us starting back 30 or 40 years ago! For sure. The Golden Age! I haven't played any of the new MIC Epi's. Both of the ones I own, and the couple I previously owned, are/were all MIK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted February 28, 2011 Author Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Ah, so maybe the move from Korea to Indonesia was the weak period. Good to hear they recovered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chuck1016 Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I can't comment on quality, but after overlooking them for many years I'm starting to love Epiphone for the variety of models they have. WilshireSwingsterP93Dot StudioWildkat/Alleykat There are a lot of really cool guitars that are uniquely Epiphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gh0st Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Get EpiphoneReplace pickupsWin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EdMan57 Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I recently bought a new Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RE acoustic/electric and I can sometimes hardly put it down.It features a solid sitka spruce top,solid rosewood back/sides,quality Shadow electronics,bone bridge/nut and very nice body/neck/headstock binding.The fit and finish are top notch,has great neck/fretwork and the tone is rich and complex.Oh,and it can get very loud,and with little compression.It sounds more full and richer than my also excellent Martin DM1 that I recently sold.Though it's probably not quite on par with a $3000 Gibson,Martin or Taylor,it's definately close enough for me.Btw,I paid a bit over $600 for mine,including the hardshall case. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 Ah, so maybe the move from Korea to Indonesia was the weak period. Good to hear they recovered. I think Indonesia is where they made the really low end stuff for a while. The Special IIs and such. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I have two Epi LP's - One is an older MIK that I did my Peter Green project with. The other is a '54 Oxblood Limited Edition. Both are great quality instruments IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BryanMichael Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I bought two Gibsons in the last year as "upgrades" I have a Korean AJ-35S acoustic from the 90's with a solid top and a new Epi Les Paul ProFX that was being blown out at GC. THe Chinese Epi LP easily works along side the Gibson. There is a subtle elegance about the Gibson for sure, but seriously, the Epi (with modded pickups) is a dream to play and it sounds fantastic - and you could buy FOUR of them for what the Gibson cost. If you really want a Gibson...get one. But seriously, side by side the Epi feels, looks,plays, and sounds like a guitar of about equal QUALITY. The acoustic is a different matter- the Gibson acoustic resonates like it's alive in my hands in a way that the Epi doesn't. But the Epi does sound good, it just doesn't bloom and breathe like the Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcooper830 Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I've had so many great experiences with Epis over the years and all the ones I have are fantastic. I have only great things to say about Epiphones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jarick Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 All I know is when I go into Guitar Center and play practically any Epiphone of the shelf, it's really bad. Poorly set up, strings either way too high or low, lots of them seem like clunkers. That just might speak to how they ship out of the box. It's a shame that they can't spend 15 minutes setting up each guitar so people might actually want to buy them. I have no idea if it's a QC problem or not, because I don't know if other brands have issues, but all the Squiers seem to play fine (maybe not awesome, but passable). I'd absolutely love to try one of the Epi Tribute LP's though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Metalrulez Posted February 28, 2011 Members Share Posted February 28, 2011 I own one Epi a Wilshire that I have had for 2 years now and it is a good guitar. Fun to play and it sounds good. That is what counts. Rock n Roll m/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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