SV Stormy Monday Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 I have a 2001 Dot (Korea) an 2013 ES-339 (China) a 1998 Fender Strat (Mexico) and a 2010 Squier Standard Strat (Indonesia). All good guitars. they all needed a setup and professional going over. I see mostly little cosmetic issues with the Dot and ES-339. I think when the Asian made guitars start really eliminating the cosmetic issues and cheap electronics they will start moving to the next quality level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 YY MM 23 XXXX(X) the 23 would determine it being made at the Samick factory in Indonesia you are right.. it's from Indo.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddairy Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I've got two Epis in home right now. 2013 IBJL Casino and a 2013 Elitist. I will not use the term "bad" to describe the quality of the IBJL. Infact, in some ways the neck feels better for my bigger hands. But structurally the Elitist booms unplugged, the guitar sounds alive and the bass strings actually reverberate through the entire body(I can actually feel this while I hold it). The IBJL unplugged feels no different than my semi-hollow bodies. The neck IBJL looks like the headstock is it's own entirely separate piece. Where as the Elitist looks to be one piece. Is this a question of quality? I don't know. I would assume one is cheaper to do than the other. I'm sending the IBJL back, not because it's "bad" quality but the Elitist is "more" of a guitar. Does that make sense? The IBJL has the pickup upgrade and wiring that the stock Chinese models don't have. The stock Chinese electronics IMO bring the overall quality down. To put this in context I had 3 2013 USA Gibson models this past summer and each of them went back, or up to eBay. I'll probably get hung for saying this but the Elitist quality wise in terms of set up attention to detail surpasses even the USA models I had. With that said, "bad" quality guitars are made regardless of the maker's country origin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 ... "bad" quality guitars are made regardless of the maker's country origin. This is a good point. We say MIC or MIA, but the difference is really the specs ... the lower priced models happen to be made in China. I don't believe where they're made is the point. It's the specs, materials, process, etc., all of which are ultimately under the control of the brand owner. This is true of everything available to consumers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 This is a good point. We say MIC or MIA, but the difference is really the specs ... the lower priced models happen to be made in China. I don't believe where they're made is the point. It's the specs, materials, process, etc., all of which are ultimately under the control of the brand owner. This is true of everything available to consumers. For the most part I agree, but you can take a Korean Epiphone and a Indonesian Epiphone made at the same time and see quite a bit of difference. Same thing with China vs. Indonesia Epis. Spec and tolerances seem to vary a little between countries and factories...not that I'm saying one is better than the other, but there are some differences. Case in point are the recent G-400s. We are familiar with the Chinese models and their specs for sure. But recently they've started producing some in Indonesia with no veneer and deeper beveling. There may even be other differences that I am not aware of, as I havent looked closely into them. Whether or not the Chinese Epiphone factories will follow suit has yet to be determined. One thing I can tell you about the differences between China and Indonesia is the fretwork. The Indonesian Epiphone got it going on...meaning that their fretwork is typically spot-on. The Gibson Qingdao factory does a good job too for the most part, but we are still seeing Epiphone Qingdao trying to play a little "catch-up" in this area. Though not to knock on Epi Qingdao, they havent been at it quite as long as the other two factories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Best SG I ever had was a G-400 made by Unsung, China. I guess they made them there before they sourced Chinese made Epiphones to the Qingdao factory? Even though it was a humble, stock G-400, I've never found one as good, for whatever reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Unsung (U) is Korea. Unsung (UC) is China. They were outsourcing to Chinese factories for quite some time before opening the Qingdao plants. Finding Chinese Epiphones prior to Qingdao, aside from MC (Muse) is quite uncommon though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I have two Epis...an LP and a Joe Pass. Both have already paid for them selves...good sounding, easy to play and great looking instruments. No complaints here. IMHO... you can't beat them for the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Epi started Chinese production in 1998 at factories like DaeWon(DW), Muse (MC) and SaeJun (SJ) Nuh-uh... Chinese production actually begain in 1995 with the Epi Series. Not sure which factory though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 For the most part I agree, but you can take a Korean Epiphone and a Indonesian Epiphone made at the same time and see quite a bit of difference. Same thing with China vs. Indonesia Epis. Spec and tolerances seem to vary a little between countries and factories...not that I'm saying one is better than the other, but there are some differences. Case in point are the recent G-400s. We are familiar with the Chinese models and their specs for sure. But recently they've started producing some in Indonesia with no veneer and deeper beveling. There may even be other differences that I am not aware of, as I havent looked closely into them. Whether or not the Chinese Epiphone factories will follow suit has yet to be determined. One thing I can tell you about the differences between China and Indonesia is the fretwork. The Indonesian Epiphone got it going on...meaning that their fretwork is typically spot-on. The Gibson Qingdao factory does a good job too for the most part, but we are still seeing Epiphone Qingdao trying to play a little "catch-up" in this area. Though not to knock on Epi Qingdao, they havent been at it quite as long as the other two factories. There is obviously variation from location to location. My point is that the variations are only seen by us because the parent company accepts/allows the variations in their product line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I've to search for the resource of my post... I'm sure it was kind of 'official' eh, you might be right. Early models might have been Indonesian. I dont know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 My Unsung, China, (UC) G-400 was, I think a 2005. So perhaps just a little before the Qingdao (EE) G-400s were the predominant G-400s sold? The DaeWon (DW) G-400s never seemed to have a great reputation. At least I seem to recall that from somewhere. ( Edit: that thought sent me looking back through the mists of time in the Epi forum - to a very knowledgeable guy called "RotcanX" who used to post here years back - here is his thread that briefly referenced EE/UC/DW G-400s and their various merits and demerits: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/39124-unsung-jumps-into-the-china-ring/ ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Interesting and informative thread. Thanks! Man, those guys sure knew alot. I feel like a noob again whenever I read those old threads. I'm happy to help carry the torch...I'm just not gonna hit anybody over the head with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 In case you may have any doubts, about Chinese woodworking capabilities, or talents. Check this out! http://www.viralnova.com/tree-trunk-carving/ CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 In case you may have any doubts, about Chinese woodworking capabilities, or talents. Check this out! http://www.viralnova.com/tree-trunk-carving/ CB Poor tree ... As if we have too many. King Obamau needs to send the Royal Guard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 (edited) This is an interesting thread, lots of good information, so I thought I would try and make it current again... Since the opening of the Gibson Qingdao China factory in 2005, Gibson has gradually increased the quality and control of the Epiphones being built. Several other Asian manufacturers were also increasing quality but gradually being squeezed out. As of 2020 Gibson has total production control of Epiphones and is only using very few other Asian facilities, if any. Also Gibson has thinned down the product line and has reintroduced the original Epiphone headstock on a few models. Note: I Have owned many Epiphones over the years, my first was a 63 Wilshire I bought new in 65, I have owned several low end 90's LP's built at the Cort factory in Indonesia where the individual components were OK but final assembly was really bad. A couple of typical problems with many of the 90's Epiphones is where all 6 of the tuner peg holes were off center on the face of the headstock and the Epiphone logo never seemed to be in the right place.. I currently own several Qingdao built Epiphones that are excellent... Edited September 5, 2020 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 There are some that are well put together & are finished quite good... At least they appear to be.. But, the Electronics, Pots, Jack, Switches Tuners, Bridge, Nut could be a lot better quality... But hard at that Price.. The biggest Nit I have though, is the Asian Pickups.. Again, these are Price point Guitars.. All the above Dan be Modded to in,prove the quality & Sound.. But, is it worth spending all the Money to do it? IMO it's not. Usually, a lightly Used comparable USA model can be found for a little more money but you'll have a great Guitar that's about as good as it gets.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 The Qingdao builds are good IMO. I had one for a while. If the guitar is good enough to be a keeper, why not replace the electrical loom, pots, switch etc. It will make the thing reliable & gigable. I've done this to a couple of cheap guitars. They are now every bit as worthy as my USA builds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Many budget priced Guitars seem to be well built & can be good Platforms to build on.. Especially if you know exactly what you want.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiekiduk Posted October 15, 2020 Share Posted October 15, 2020 Why are the strings (or frets) so dirty on brand new Chinese Epiphones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve@steveharr Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 I have a Chinese Casino, and it is excellent. One of my students bought a Gibson SG 5 years ago, that would not stay in tune. Worked on it for days, on and off. In the end, they replaced it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 On December 3, 2020 at 9:48 PM, steve@steveharr said: I have a Chinese Casino, and it is excellent. One of my students bought a Gibson SG 5 years ago, that would not stay in tune. Worked on it for days, on and off. In the end, they replaced it I agree on the MIC Casino's.. About the only thing they need are better Pickups.. Like Gibson USA P90's... They should've addressed the Nut. Filing the slots to spec & or replacing it on the SG. 99% of the time that's the problem.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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