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LuckyDan

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About LuckyDan

  • Birthday 10/25/1961

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  1. My EF-500 RAVS has a G serial too. (G0411 etc...) Odd Epi denies any knowledge of it. It's my prized possession. I love it so much I just bought another Masterbilt to go with it, an AJ-45 ME. I keep them in stands in front of my chair and spend the days switching from one to the other. The AJ has an 11 digit number with 23 in the factory code position. At least I hope it's the factory code otherwise mine is like the 2 million 3 hundred thousandth AJ made.
  2. My open box AJ has arrove. The pickguard covers only the thin outer rings of the rosette, and leaves the thicker center ring entirely visible. I see no scratches, no signs of any play wear at all, in fact. Serial number indicates it was made in July 2016. My guess is previous buyers returned it because of the very obviously mismatched top woods. I've snapped a couple of photos with my tablet camera, but the mismatch isn't as obvious in photos as it is to the eye looking straight-on. I can certainly live with it. Action is too low for me, and I believe that accounts for a thinner tone than I want. I know this instrument is capable of a fuller tone. I'm not good at guessing string gauge but I suspect the set on it now is way light. I will replace with a set of Martin MA550 (13-56) and see if that doesn't solve both the low action issue and the girly-man voicing. I'm looking for a full-throated, bassy sound, like on "My Sweet Lord." It's in there, I'm sure. This will probably be my last guitar, unless I come into a pile of money. I'm happy.
  3. After further research, I can answer my own question. I can use a hair dryer to heat the top of the pickguard sufficiently, and gently scrape from beneath with a painter's palette knife. And yes I can expect some tan lines. Will probably just leave it all alone. I bought these babies to play not to look at, right?
  4. Hi, Cougar and thanks for the kind words on my favorite guitar. I remember posting about it on the old Epiphone boards the day it arrived. It came with a hefty price tag - the most expensive of all the Masterbilts I believe. I said, "In a few years I probably won't mind that I paid a little extra, but right now I'm feeling like a went a little nuts." Time has proven me correct. It's a prize, and it's tone has aged beautifully. I like it for fingerstyle, or strumming without a pick - it just sings best without a plectrum. I have been wanting to add the AJ for a while so that I can have a nice strummer to go with it. I've played enough of them at GC to know I won't be disappointed. Of course, the AJ will be an open box so I will be looking for any signs of abuse or poor assembly when it arrives. Assuming none, and no matter the pickguard/rosette appearance, it will be a keeper.
  5. I just ordered an open box AJ-45 from MF. I have owned and enjoyed my EF-500RAVS for many years now and am looking forward to adding another Masterbilt to the stable. One thing I just noticed tonight, though, as I scour the net reading reviews and chit chat about the AJ, is that the pick guard on most photos I'm finding covers the rosette on the lower portion. I saw one photo on Sweetwater though that shows the entire rosette. Looks much smarter that way. I'm hoping mine will look like that. Did Epi change the size and shape of the guard at some point? Another question. I would actually prefer to have no pickguard at all on either the EF or the AJ. Has anyone any experience in removing them? If I could be sure the result would be an even finish with no tan-lines apparent, I'd like to pull them off.
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