crust
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Posts posted by crust
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Here's a quick pic of my Joe Pass Pro. Purty, huh? Oh, just in case you're wondering, that guitar in the background with that gorgeous quilted maple top is my Greg Bennett RL-3 model, built by Samick.Wow, crust, that's a very nice Epiphone collection you have there. Hey, I like Ibanez too. In fact, I've traditionally preferred the Ibanez hollow and semi-hollow bodies over Epiphones. I used to own an Ibanez 2455NT, made in 1977, supposedly an L4 knockoff but not really, and I loved it but in a moment of weakness I sold it some 10 years ago. After about 5 years with no archtop, I found an Ibanez AG85 and fell in love with it. It has the second-tier ACH pickups with the ceramic magnets, so I found a first-tier Super 58 neck pickup that came out of a AKJV95 and installed it into the neck position of my AG85. The sound was transformational. It went from being a very nice sounding instrument to one of very special, unique qualities. So, anyway, yeah, I like Ibanez.
But that Joe Pass just got under my skin and I felt I had to have one. It arrived last Thursday. The strings that came with it, according to my dial calipers, measured 10 14 23w 32 40 48. So, about regular to medium light gauge, except for the wound G. I replaced those strings with a set of D'Addarios measuring 10 14 18 28 38 49. Actually, the set came with an 11 E, so I just substituted a single 10 to get me where I wanted to be. They ended up sounding about the same, so I don't feel I gave up anything, soundwise. As for the guitar itself, fit and finish are top notch. Not a blemish to be found anywhere. Those new "Pro" pickups provide a very full, deep sound on the neck setting, and a nice growl with good punch on the bridge setting. The push-pull pots provide for some interesting tonal variations, but I'll probably never use this feature. Further, this guitar will live its life with the pickup selector set primarily to the neck pickup. The description of the guitar says it has a slim profile "C" shaped neck. I was expecting a 60s Slim profile but that's not what it has. It's more like one found on 50s Les Pauls -- or that 1955 Epiphone LP Custom with the P90s. Almost identical neck shape. At first, I felt a bit put off by this, but then I just decided to play the guitar and I quickly realized that this neck profile is very comfortable, so I have no reason to miss the 60s Slim taper.
I bought the guitar from Sweetwater. One of the things they do that other online retailers don't, is they put every guitar they sell through a 55-point inspection process, which includes setting the action and intonation (not much intonation to be done with the JP's rosewood bridge, though). So the guitar arrived, ready to play.
I spent a few days with the guitar and its stock strings and enjoyed it. I slid my fingers around on that wound G instead of trying to bend it, and that worked ok. But I missed not being able to bend it, so on the D'Addarios went. It plays just as nicely with the D'Addarios. I really like the very full sound of this guitar. It rivals my AG85 with its Super 58 pickup -- which is saying a LOT! So I'm happy. I may not have an extensive collection of hollow bodies -- to me, two very nice sounding ones is plenty! But I'm content with what I have. It's all I need, and then some.
So if any of you are on the fence about buying a JP Pro, I can just say that I highly recommend it. It is a quintessential jazz instrument, yet it can get down and punch out the rock and blues if that's what you need. Great sound, great looks, and -- most importantly -- a great player.
I may obtain a Joe Pass Emperor, some day maybe. Stranger things than that have happened to me, indeed they have. But ya, I would 1 of them things, ya I would
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I will interject a little. I have only tried a Joe Pass model at the guitar store.It was OK. I traded my 1999 Regent for an Ibanez. I have 2 Swingster's I love them, a lot... a real lot.
this was nice
this is nicer, sorry Epiphone
great, very great. So, an Emperor Swingster is my reply to that
Broadway is kind of like a 2 pup Regent a little bit
and, I like that thing a lot too, a very a lot, actually. Oh yes I do
I mean, look at them 
, thank you Epiphone, for those things there, 
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Here's the finished product:
nice indeed
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I like this thing
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I also am kind of wondering if the person who started Danelectro, may have had something to do with those, there, maybe. I don't really know, but he did work for Epiphone, and their amps, when he was involved with them, there, then, with amps, before starting Danelectro, himself., I did read that, someplace, maybe. Good luck in your search, and, maybe someone can give you more insight into those, some day, soon, maybe.
http://www.folkwaymusic.com/museum/amplifiers-/1959-epiphone-devon-0514/
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Anyone?
Apparently not :( I will say this, you can send them to me, and then, I will tell you something like "you don't really need those old things any more" or "these things are great", most likely. All kidding aside, they kind of remind me of old Supro amps, a little, maybe. Try Gruhn guitars or a similar appraiser, or "my rare guitar" site,or even Epiphone customer service :) and maybe someone there can give you an appropriate answer about those. I would also say this, about them. I kind of believe they are somewhat of historical relics :) But, I do also believe that you already knew that, about them, most likely. Lucky and fortunate, that is what I also believe about yourself, with those things, there :) .
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I like all the iterations Epiphone guitars have, and have had. Even banana heads :)
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I'm just about done modding my Wildkat, except I'm not entirely happy with how close the treble end of the vibrola "comb" sits in relation to the volume knob. It doesn't actually hit the knob, but it looks awkward. I think that the next time I change strings, I might cut the comb shorter and drill a new hole to attach the arm closer to the E string.
I also like your modification with that tremolo unit on that. I guess, if you do that, the tremolo thing will be at a bit of an angle, maybe. Yes, to me, these are very fun instruments. I believe I am not the only 1 that also has found that to be true, for themselves. :)
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I changed the knobs to pearl-tipped Tele style knobs. Matches the fingerboard inlays:
I like that, a lot. :) I think it is a beautiful instrument, that thing, there, yes :) do believe that :)
When I did obtain this thing, the head stock emblem was not present, but I did obtain 1, and now it has that thing, back on it, there, now. I like that guitar though, and this 1 also :)
:)
I have not done any modifications to this thing yet. I might replace the saddles with a roller type bridge, or graph-tech things, some day, maybe. I did put a roller bridge on 2 of theses. things, and, they do work pretty good, after doing that, to them , now :) I do believe a roller bridge would work OK on a Wildkat thing also :) White and wine red, yes, very nice, Doing that improves the tuning stability and I haven't broken the high E string as quickly as what did happen with the "stock" saddle things on them.
:)
I will watch this subject. I kind of do not believe too many have modified their Wildkat guitar. I may be incorrect about that, maybe. But, no, I do not believe too many have modified theirs, maybe :)
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Tweed, how'd you see mgrasso's pics? I just see the "pay Photobucket money" image.
no more links from photobucket for free any more :( I use imgur.com ,now. Hey , my oldest sons friend likes this reissue thing. me too :)
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I looked away was the very last thing , this morning , I try to perform something , every day , that I had never done before
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I will only own an epi that is either a new epi design like the wildcat, a Riv with mimi's, etc. the Sheraton and Riv with full humbuckers are not an option for me.
Why is that ? Is there something that you do not like about "full humbuckers" ? maybe
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And yes , I leave all the stickers on . Why , I don't know :) I just do :) . But , I do take the plastic "film" , protective cover sheet thing , off of the pickups . :) I also leave the plastic foam insert that is under the bridge/saddle thing on. Do you ? And , do you remove the stickers on your instruments ? i may , but , probably not . I like to look at them . I don't think that is wrong :)
peace :)
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I want that one. Too bad they are not available.
I am still trying to find a new , or slightly used , blue colored Epiphone Riviera P93 . I see , they are available in Canada , now . At one time MF did have them , I must have been sleeping :) Things as such , true "limited edition" Epiphone instruments , like that thing , they do go rather fast . So , I guess , if you see something , that may not actually be over produced , you better obtain it , when it is available . That is my experience . You know how I feel about guitars , Epiphones in particular . If you don't , well , to me , they are great guitars , or the ones I have obtained , over the course of years , have been . I do not believe I "got lucky" , with the Epiphone instruments that I like . I just believe , Epiphone makes all the things they manufacture , great :) I have been playing , well ,every guitar here , but these ones have been taking up most of my practice time , lately . I think , they are great , because they are :)
Thanks Epiphone :)
I expect to get many years of enjoyment with , all the instruments , actually . But , again , the latest instruments I have obtained really are , actually , to me , ridiculously nice ...indeed they are :)
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I like this thing , thanks Epiphone :)
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Manufacture and release an ES 300 :) that would be very excellent , Oh yes indeed , Do it :)
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Reissue the Dwight : Coronet do it please :) Thank you Epiphone :) :) :) :)
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Triumph Regent reissue :) ...please ...please :)
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Personally, I don't care if the re-issue is 100% vintage correct, and I couldn't care less about binding. Epi_Insider, this guitar is gorgeous and I would buy it as-is. I would even pre-order it and wait six months for it to arrive. It is so hard to find a mini-humbucker guitar, and the neck joints on the Wilshire/Crestwood series makes these things the most playable guitars I've ever encountered. TAKE MY MONEY!
I have some suggestions that would make this even better for my needs - but again, I would buy this guitar as-is and be insanely happy with it.
1 - As somebody else mentioned, I like having the Epiphone badge Tremotone unit instead of the standard Bigsby. The Bigsby is a classic, but the Tremotone (with its full, uninterrupted 360-degree range of motion) is more comfortable and more playable than the Bigsby.
2 - The 6-on-a-side batwing-style headstock (as pictured below), I believe, is better for tuning. This is based on my owning a reissue '66 Wilshire with the batwing headstock and a reissue '62 Crestwood with the 3-on-a-side headstock as shown in the current design. Don't get me wrong - the Crestwood holds tune very, very well, but the '66 Wilshire with the batwing headstock holds tune better than any other guitar I have ever owned. I have every reason to believe it's because of the added string tension placed on the treble-side strings + the straight string pull.
3 - What color options will be available?
BTW, it took me a moment, but I realized that what looks like a rotary switch by the volume/tone knobs is a six-way pickup selector switch. That's a stroke of brilliance that needs to be included on every 3-pickup guitar.
While this reissue won't 100% match the '60s specs, this unit looks like it'll be more flexible functionally speaking. Love it.
yes
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Hey Epiphone , if "you" are "here" , would you please make a larger Century amp . I think the 1 speaker reissue thing is absolutely great. It works perfectly with my arch top guitars. Other amps feedback...quite annoyingly so, when using your larger hollow body electric guitars , like the Deluxe reissue. But , the Century amp does not , or very , very little...only at the highest volume. I once had a tweed SC210 , which , regrettably , I no longer have :( I traded it in for an Epiphone guitar :) , worked for me :). But, I'd like to obtain an other, some day. That was a great amplifier , in my humble opinion. But , a larger "Century" type maybe a 2x12 with a matching external cabinet thing , would be perfect , :) You can do that...right ? :) With all the great new reissue arch top guitars that you have been producing , a larger amp would be quite excellent , also . in my humble opinion :) thanks :)
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med too
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I don't know if Epi_insider will ever come back to this post. I certainly hope so, at some point in the near future. I do have another request. If you ever do make a 9 string Riviera as I describe, make this the head stock inlay...if possible...again, thank you
The House of Stathopoulo
and the "normal" Riviera "crown".
Supersonic
in Epiphone Electrics
Posted
do you have a Supersonic ?