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looking for Info on Masterbilt AJ 500


Buddhablue

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new guy here,

 

i bought two masterbilts when they first came out.

the EF 500 mahogany, and an AJ 500.

 

the AJ model is AJ 500 RCSNS

 

i'm the original owner, but i can't remember what they all stand for, was wondering if i could get some help.

(looking at Epiphone site, they don't even have this one in the 'discontinued models'.)

 

here is what i do know.

 

it's a Rosewood body AJ.

it's the Short Neck, open headstock model.

(no pickguard)

 

the top of the guitar is almost exactly like my Breedlove America Series which has a red cedar top.

(that could be the 'c', just not sure)

 

I'm sure one of the 'S's, is for Short Scale, but just wondering about the rest, since google gives me nothing when i put the 'rcsns' in the search.

(and i did actually get them from the label inside.)

 

thanks for any help,

dab

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From the ever amazing epi-wiki:

http://www.epiphonewiki.com/index.php?title=Masterbilt#Masterbilt_AJ-500RC

 

Masterbilt AJ-500RC

 

2006-2008

LR Baggs Element pickup (AJ-500RCE)

Premium Solid Cedar top

Premium Solid Rosewood body

Multi-ply 3-ring rosette

6-ply body binding

1-ply neck binding

Set 1-piece mahogany neck with SlimTaper "D" profile

Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays

14" fingerboard radius

Masterbilt dovewing headstock with stickpin inlay

Rosewood reverse-belly bridge

Bone nut & saddle

Tortoise teardrop pickguard

18:1 ratio Grover Sta-Tite tunes

Nickel hardware

25.5” scale

1.68” nut width

Natural Satin finish

 

 

So Yea, AJ slope shoulder, Rosewood, solid cedar, natural satin

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Cunningham26,

you were pretty close.

it was actually the next one down.

the 12fret with the open headstock.

thanks for finding it!

 

it does have the gold hardware.

only difference between mine and the one they list, (copied below), is that mine does not have a pickguard.

 

Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RC 12-Fret

 

 

Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RC 12-Fret Headstock

Premium Solid Cedar top

Premium Solid Rosewood body

Multi-ply 3-ring rosette

7-ply body binding

Set 1-piece mahogany neck with 1930's "V" profile

Rosewood fingerboard with diamond inlays

Neck joins body at 12th fret

14" fingerboard radius

Masterbilt dovewing slotted headstock with stickpin inlay

Rosewood non-belly bridge

Bone nut & saddle

Tortoise-flame teardrop pickguard

18:1 ratio Grover Sta-Tite tunes

Gold hardware

25.5” scale

1.75” nut width

Natural Satin finish

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So then i guess i didn't really finalize this thing.

 

AJ 500 RCSNS is

 

R - Rosewood back and sides

C - Cedar top

S - Short Scale 12 fret

NS - Natural Satin finish.

 

i love the guitar, often have it tuned down a step to a D-d.

it's a little too thick for these short arms, but it sure sounds good!

 

I had the K&K Western pickups installed, so it sounds great amped as well.

 

thanks to all the readers!

dab

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I'm not sure the first S means short scale. It may, but scale has nothing to do with the number of frets. Scale is distance between frets.

 

I have one of these Outstanding guitars. I've never thought to check the scale length. Epiphones are almost always long scale. I'll check mine tomorrow and let you know.

 

Red 333

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I'm not sure the first S means short scale. It may, but scale has nothing to do with the number of frets. Scale is distance between frets.

 

I have one of these Outstanding guitars. I've never thought to check the scale length. Epiphones are almost always long scale. I'll check mine tomorrow and let you know.

 

Red 333

 

It is the only Masterbilt with slotted headstock so probably this is what "S" means. It could also mean Short neck.

BTW - Red 333 I remember U have whole room of Masterbilts etc..[thumbup] I have a question: Is this 12 fret neck the same V profile and width (from nut to 12th fret) like on EF-500R guitar?

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