[Review: Gibson Advanced Jumbo vs Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RE]

Hi' date=' Maaty. I've got both an AJ500R and an Advanced Jumbo, and I agree in general with your description of the AJ having stronger fundamentals. The Masterbilt is voiced to emphasize the overtones more. That's true of the AJ500M, as well, when compared to a J45. I've often described the Masterbilts as being Gibsons in a reverb tank. The Gibsons are drier and more immediate.

 

My take on it is that the Masterbilt is a heck of a guitar, and more impressive still when you consider the price. I find the playability of the Masterbilts is excellent, too--they beg to be played.

 

Red 333 [/quote']

 

Thanks Red, I think I prefer the drier sound of a good Gibson.

 

Maybe the 500M mahogany model has less boom and bass reverberation than the rosewood box?

[Review: Gibson Advanced Jumbo vs Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RE]

I went to GC in Atlanta last weekend, and I was intrigued how better the Gibson AJ was over the Epi Masterbilt.

 

Owning an MB guitar, I had to try the Gibson AJ.

 

 

Price: $1999 vs $699 (Gibson was all acoustic, so I figure AJ-500R w/o the electronics costs $599)

 

Sound: Gibson wins hands down on clarity and tone. Epi sounds muddy compared to Gibson. Gibson AJ sounded a lot tighter, focused, and more fundamental. The lows were more accurate, tighter, and deeper. The highs were clearer and sounded a lot better. The mids were better on Gibson as well.

 

I think I have to start saving $$$ for a Gibson now .

 

Whoever put reviews online saying that Epi Masterbilt is better than the Gibson AJ is wrong.

 

Overall, I liked '71 Martin D-35, Gibson AJ, and Taylor 710CE they had. Out of these, I think the Martin and Gibson had the best balance.

 

Of course, YMMV

[New Masterbilt Esonic2 issues]

Miles, have you found out what's causing the problem?

 

My AJ-500RE also has the same tuner symptoms. I don't use amps yet so I don't know about the rest of the problem though.