Jase81 Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 I only have one Epi Acoustic so far, but IMO they have made so many beautiful ones. So, I would have to go for the one that I own...Masterbilt DR-500RANS. I wanted to post a nice picture of it here, but for some reason it is not letting me...saying the file that I can attach can only be 43k, which is weird, but oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase81 Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Wow, those are impressive. I've got to go with my 2008 EF-500 RAVS, which never ceases to amaze me how good it sounds. Wow...beautiful guitar!! I have a DR-500RA, which is basically your guitar in the DR Series. Mine is in Natural Satin(NS) though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Wow...beautiful guitar!! I have a DR-500RA, which is basically your guitar in the DR Series. Mine is in Natural Satin(NS) though. Thanks, Jase. Welcome to the boards. Glad you got that photo posted. Nice! Yeah, I had an EF500RANS but opted for the RAVS when it came along, which happened to come with nice fossilized walrus ivory bridge pins and saddle. It's got great tone. The RANS, now gone.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeet1 Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 My vote goes for my 91 SQ 180 (I also have a 94 and an 06). Per Gibson's former web page manager and assistant historian, the 89, 90, and 91 models were all made in Gibson's Bozeman MT plant not that long after Gibson acquired Flat Iron. Solid spruce top, solid maple back and sides. Only part of guitar made in Korea was its neck, which is narrower than the Gibson J 180 (1.65" at the nut on the Epi). Trade regs at the time required that if any part of the guitar was made in another country, the product was labeled as such. Per the former Gibson employee referenced above, he has seen the production runs for those three years out of the Bozeman plant, and these were made there. My 94 is all laminate, and I switched out the plastic nut, bridge and pins for bone. Greatly improved the sound, but sounds nothing like my 91 which goes to a different level totally. Has that percussive, punchy Everly Brothers/J-180 sound that you recognize instantly. These 89, 90 and 91 models turn up on Ebay for $400 to $600 on occasion (one on there now to be bid on starting at $450). I found one in mint condition in Nashville and paid $950 for it and haven't regretted it one bit. Have played it with guys who have J-180's and I'd put this up against those any day. After playing it, the reaction from Martin, Gibson and Taylor players is "hey, let me see that thing." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagull Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Acoustic/Electric/Masterbilt-2015-AJ-45ME.aspx AJ-45ME is my favorite so far. If they ever come out with a Masterbilt Hummingbird that might be a solid running up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulloy Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 It would have to be the only one I own. FT 155, it can sing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 EL-00 Pro. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo Heavenly Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Epiphone Masterbilt® De Luxe Classic, my favorite so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelDeVille Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 1964 Bard on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AldoMcD1 Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 My favourite Epiphone acoustic models are the Excellente and Frontier (with the cactus & rope pickguard). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Epiphone Masterbilt® De Luxe Classic, my favorite so far! Nice! How is it plugged in? With that adjustable saddle setup, I don't see how it could have undersaddle electronics. But it's got nice hidden controls in the f-hole! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Epiphone Masterbilt® De Luxe Classic.... Wait a minute. Do I see ebony fretboard in the specs for this guitar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrasso Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 My Masterbilts are great, AJ-500RNS, AJ-500MNS, DR-500PNS. But my $199 Hummingbird with Hardshell case is hot on their trail. (Sorry for the large photos) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mik Neville Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 I have four Epi's (six if we count Mando's) there all great sounding and I love them all. But the DR500MCE built in November of 2011 that I bought new in 2012 tone wise is the best of them all and that includes a 1966 Texan I bought in 1968. That said I will still love playing all of my Epi's till the day I can't anymore then my son and grand children get them to enjoy for there lives. B) Mik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Epiphone Masterbilt® De Luxe Classic, my favorite so far! yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisB643 Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I'd have to give the nod to my DR500PNS as well. Simple, eligant with a fantastic sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si Hartgroves Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 I have been staggered by the build quality, acoustic sound, fit and finish of my new Masterbilt Century Deluxe round sound hole archtop. Like many of us, I probably own too many guitars (is that possible?), including high-end acoustics and a couple of f-hole archtops (where my Epi Broadway is the instrument of choice) but my Lowden stays in its case now, while the Masterbilt gets to wear the party dress. For pub/restaurant sessions and Renbourn-style finger-flinging, in my opinion this guitar is about as good as you can get. Can't say I'm overly impressed with the onboard electronics, which seem to amplify all finger noise (and whose EQ/volume controls have a limited range), but there are alternative sound-reinforcement options. And it looks stunning, which doesn't hurt... The sound projection - a function of the slightly arched top and longitudinal bracing - is simply phenomenal: I'm surprised to have so far seen so few of them out in the wild (I'm sure that all it would take is one big-name performer to adopt the model and do what Tommy Emmanuel did for Maton). I've got no axe to grind here, I've owned Gibsons, Martins and any number of mid-range instruments over the past fifty years: In terms of value-for-money though the Century De Luxe, at under £350 delivered in the UK, knocks them all into a cocked hat. Si Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 As far as a favourite Epi acoustic goes,I'd have to declare a tie between my Korean made (Samick plant) 2002 EJ-200 (the early Korean made model with GIBSON printed on the truss rod cover and my Indonesian made 2009 EJ-160E John Lennon model. The EJ-200 is a natural finish non-cutaway model.I'd have no qualms whatever putting my EJ-200 up against any current Gibson made J-200.The tone of the Epi is incredibly well balanced and its volume and projection is incredibly loud and clear.My nephew is a tech at Canada's largest guitar retailer and after playing my Epi J-200 for quite a while he said that it was far superior to its current Gibson counterpart in both playability and tone,in fact he said that it was closer in tone to a '50s or '60s J-200.As far as the EJ-160E John Lennon model goes,its tone-although similar to the '60s original,doesn't exactly reproduce its tone.All that changes when the guitar is plugged into an AC-15 or 30.When I first plugged my EJ-160E into my AC-15 for the first time and played the opening riff of "I Feel Fine" I immediately got a serious case of goosebumps-the closeness to the sound of the original was uncanny.I'd have no problem recommending either of these beautiful guitars to anyone,they are first rate playability and excellent tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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