mgrasso

I have checked online stores and have not found the AJ45 with the older Masterbilt headstock and parallelogram neck inlays. Where did you find this? Was this a Canadian exclusive?

We can only hope!

I wished I had jumped on the Hummingbird 12 string when they hit GC and Musician's Friend. They are now on back order. and at 48 months same as cash financing, That was a no brainer. Oh well, I just have to enjoy my Frontier until they restock and offer the 48 months again.

The funny thing, if you can call it funny, these were in stock at Musicians Friend and I bought it, 2 weeks before my rotator cuff surgery (last Friday). So She is waiting for me to pick her up again. But at least I got one.

Seems like they removed the pages on some. Cannot locate the Riveriera.

Thanks Red. I was very disappointed with the Century Masterbilts. I bought the deluxe, but for $900 (initially), They felt cheap compared to the original Masterbilts. Plus for that price point to have laminated back and sides, well, it just was not for me. Even Loar can produce an under $1K archtop with solid backs and sides. This was a sigh of relief. I cannot wait to get the Excellente.

I finally found the new Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier. She will be a great sister to my Masterbilt DR-500PNS. This has the Indian Laurel fret board. I have not had the chance to add some lemon oil to it yet and hope it darkens up a little. The bridge is also pretty dry. The comparisons are fairly similar except the DR has a rosewood fretboard, the neck is a little wider. The Frontier has a thinner and narrower neck, but not a deal breaker. They both ring like only solid maple does. I have Rosewood and Mahogany backs and sides on Dreds and Advance Jumbos, and love them, but maple has a great, different sound. Also notice the differences in the bridge orientation. Not sure why they rotated the direction. And this is my only electric acoustic maple dread. ( and $4k less than a Gibson Dove). Fit and finish are great. The back and side wood pattern is fairly pedestrian compared to the 500PNS, but the first Masterbilts are impeccable. Musician's Friend got 3 and this is one of them. Sweetwater still has them on back order. And for some reason, Guitar Center cannot sell these. The rep could see them from the GC site to the MF site, but she could not sell it to me on my GC card. So I had to open an MF card. $17 month same as cash for 48 months. It will be paid off sooner, but I like buying that way. Also, almost all Epiphone hard cases are on back order from all outlets. That surprised me. Luckily, I have an extra dread case. More photos when I can in natural light.

I have early 2000's AJ-500RNS, AJ-500MNS, DR-500PNS and a brand new Masterbilt Frontier (photos soon). I was not impressed with the AJ-45ME when I played one compared to the above. Maybe it was the shorter scale. Not sure. I will now look at putting electronics into each. I would go with the new Masterbilt Texan before I would go with the AJ45ME. I will also get the new Masterbilt Excellente when they become available. Just my 2 cents.

I agree.

Some new entries.

Here you go

Get her strung and start playing. Enjoy.

I just bought a 3 pack of Martin Life Span 12s and 1 set of 11s. Coated, long lasting great sounding. Had them delivered. Spending the weekend restringing my three Masterbilts and 2006 Martin DC Aura.

Looks like someone put an Epiphone neck on an Ibanez body to me. In fact, no 5 ply binding on the headstock or fret board, not the right 5 piece next and not the right inlays either. Someone built that nest and put it on an Epiphone body. Not a Chinese fake, but a Luthier fake. Not an original Epiphone. Hope you did not spend a lot on it.

I don’t think I’ll e able to play one before I buy, but as soon as the Frontier gets stocked at GC, one will be on its way to me. Based on that, the Excellente would follow. I was disappointed with the Century DeLuxe I bought and returned. Not as solid as the previous Masterbilts. These are all solid wood. Hoping for success. A lot of new product this year. The almost total lineup headstock change took me by surprise. the USA made Texan and Casino will be out of reach for me.