Mickthemiller Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Thanks, Mick, and major congrats! Gorgeous photos! Well, it's short scale, right? Must be a little trade-off there. For some reason, I really like the pickguard on the older Hummingbird Artists. This isn't quite it. Still.... [GAS welling up] Thanks Cougar I missed one or two things - the machines are lovely Grovers - the frets are well finished, no sharp ends. The sound is more piano like now I think about it. I rushed out and took the photos in the early morning spring sunlight and inside. I was sort of commanded to do so:rolleyes: so I rushed em off - I even had to open an account with photo bucket!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photodusty Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Looks fantastic! It also appears you are the only one in the world with this! Congrats on a sweet looking and hopefully awesome sounding guitar! db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wootpow Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Looks very nice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromnabulax Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 One of the issues I had with my recent Gibby J200 was the soundhole mounted preamp. It was poorly glued and its weight clearly affected the tone of the guitar in an adverse way. I also found that the battery sack mounted on the inside if the heel was just plain awful. I am really curious to know how you feel about these on your new Epi. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickthemiller Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 One of the issues I had with my recent Gibby J200 was the soundhole mounted preamp. It was poorly glued and its weight clearly affected the tone of the guitar in an adverse way. I also found that the battery sack mounted on the inside if the heel was just plain awful. I am really curious to know how you feel about these on your new Epi. Thanks! It seems much like the one on the Texan really - I haven't tried it apart from to see if it works - and it does and it seems solid enough. I am not likely to use it much, if at all.The battery on these is like the Texan - it's a small button type that fits in the sound hole control. I had a Martin with a 9v battery that was housed in a pocket inside the guitar - I took that out along with the pickup and all. That put me off under-saddle pickups until I got the Texan. And to Photodusty - wow!! the only one in the world in captivity!!! I can't believe it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisB643 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 That's a pretty dull finish...jus sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Guess they had to do the dull finish to differentiate it from the Gibson J-45 to protect the Gibson J-45 brand of the guitar. Makes sense actually. If Iam not mistaken, they did a similar thing when Gibson brought out the Workingman's J-45 (can't recall if it was actually the WM-45 or WM J-45.), but it was a fine economical version of the J-45. Too fine if I recall where it probably was eating into J-45 sales. I recall playing one that was a great 45 guitar that I could have bought at the time at a guitar show for only $500, but decided to wait a bit. Years later here I am still waiting to buy it at $500. That was one that got away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 It seems much like the one on the Texan really - I haven't tried it apart from to see if it works - and it does and it seems solid enough. I am not likely to use it much, if at all.The battery on these is like the Texan - it's a small button type that fits in the sound hole control. I had a Martin with a 9v battery that was housed in a pocket inside the guitar - I took that out along with the pickup and all. That put me off under-saddle pickups until I got the Texan. And to Photodusty - wow!! the only one in the world in captivity!!! I can't believe it!! nice looking AJ! It should be the same preamp as the Texan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Guess they had to do the dull finish to differentiate it from the Gibson J-45 to protect the Gibson J-45 brand of the guitar. Makes sense actually. If Iam not mistaken, they did a similar thing when Gibson brought out the Workingman's J-45 (can't recall if it was actually the WM-45 or WM J-45.), but it was a fine economical version of the J-45. Too fine if I recall where it probably was eating into J-45 sales. I recall playing one that was a great 45 guitar that I could have bought at the time at a guitar show for only $500, but decided to wait a bit. Years later here I am still waiting to buy it at $500. That was one that got away... when the Masterbilt line was re-introduced in the early 2000s, they were all satin finished like this. I'm not sure it's to differentiate from the Gibson but I think I read somewhere that the satin finish allows the wood to breathe more. anyone know if this is true? I have a 2007 AJ500 that has a satin finish and I swear it sounds better every year. I'm sure that's true with most solid spruce tops though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 when the Masterbilt line was re-introduced in the early 2000s, they were all satin finished like this. I'm not sure it's to differentiate from the Gibson but I think I read somewhere that the satin finish allows the wood to breathe more. anyone know if this is true? The wood didn't breathe when it was a tree, it sure don't breathe as a plank. It is only true when it comes from the mouth of someone selling something, at all other times it is patently untrue. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 The wood didn't breathe when it was a tree, it sure don't breathe as a plank. It is only true when it comes from the mouth of someone selling something, at all other times it is patently untrue. rct maybe breathe wasn't the correct word. the more exposure to the elements without coats and coats of poly or lacquer is what I was going for, or does it matter at all? also, if a tree is predominately wood and trees breathe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 maybe breathe wasn't the correct word. the more exposure to the elements without coats and coats of poly or lacquer is what I was going for, or does it matter at all? also, if a tree is predominately wood and trees breathe... Find a book by a guy named Hoadley. Trust me, it was the bible when it came to the Huge Usenet Wood Arguments Of The 90s. I had it back then too, and the quotes were fast and furious all day as the ever increasing sales drivel attempted to become Guitar Fact, and the rightous among us defended truth from the new Ebay sellers who would say ANYthing to sell something. In my life I've had great guitars and crappy guitars with all kinds of paint on them, in my experience it isn't a maker or breaker at all. I currently have a house full of great guitars with various paints from Fender Car Paint to Gibson Nitro to Epiphone Satin to Squier house paint, they are all equally good at what they do and the paint doesn't matter. CFMartin could have sprayed actual crap on mine and it would still sound and play as well as it does. Companies don't put high gloss paint on guitars because it is expensive hand work that just subtracts profit. The dull, faded, satin, all that, a fairly recent phenomena as the companies have just cut everything to the bone in order to make money. So they have to come up with something, they can't tell Timmy that his Christmas present is "satin" finished because the guitar company is a bunch of cheapskates, so it's easier for the wood to breathe is just as good as any other story. This is my experience only. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Find a book by a guy named Hoadley. Trust me, it was the bible when it came to the Huge Usenet Wood Arguments Of The 90s. I had it back then too, and the quotes were fast and furious all day as the ever increasing sales drivel attempted to become Guitar Fact, and the rightous among us defended truth from the new Ebay sellers who would say ANYthing to sell something. In my life I've had great guitars and crappy guitars with all kinds of paint on them, in my experience it isn't a maker or breaker at all. I currently have a house full of great guitars with various paints from Fender Car Paint to Gibson Nitro to Epiphone Satin to Squier house paint, they are all equally good at what they do and the paint doesn't matter. CFMartin could have sprayed actual crap on mine and it would still sound and play as well as it does. Companies don't put high gloss paint on guitars because it is expensive hand work that just subtracts profit. The dull, faded, satin, all that, a fairly recent phenomena as the companies have just cut everything to the bone in order to make money. So they have to come up with something, they can't tell Timmy that his Christmas present is "satin" finished because the guitar company is a bunch of cheapskates, so it's easier for the wood to breathe is just as good as any other story. This is my experience only. rct cool. i'll definitely check that out. I find it all pretty interesting. I agree though and could care less what kind of finish any guitar has (as long as it doesn't bleed on me). all about the cool factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 cool. i'll definitely check that out. I find it all pretty interesting. I agree though and could care less what kind of finish any guitar has (as long as it doesn't bleed on me). all about the cool factor. Dr. Hoadley, now that I think about it. It's the definitive work on wood types and characteristics. And everyone knows the Red guitars are better. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickthemiller Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 On this satin finish - It does feel wrong somehow - and the thing that really bugs me is that I have a £99 Epiphone Special P90 which is a fantastic guitar for the price and it has a lovely satin finish. Far better than the finish on this AJ-45ME. The finish on the Special feels very thin but it also feels substantial. I have said that a good buffing will not protect the guitar like a gloss finish would, but I am seriously considering buffing it with Rothko and Frost burnishing cream. I did this with a 2013 Gibson LPJ I had and it came out OK. I've posted some pictures here http://s1341.photobu...iller1/library/ First photo is original finish - second is after buffing as above- they may appear in wrong order but they are there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Dr. Hoadley, now that I think about it. It's the definitive work on wood types and characteristics. And everyone knows the Red guitars are better. rct amen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 On this satin finish - It does feel wrong somehow - and the thing that really bugs me is that I have a £99 Epiphone Special P90 which is a fantastic guitar for the price and it has a lovely satin finish. Far better than the finish on this AJ-45ME. The finish on the Special feels very thin but it also feels substantial. I have said that a good buffing will not protect the guitar like a gloss finish would, but I am seriously considering buffing it with Rothko and Frost burnishing cream. I did this with a 2013 Gibson LPJ I had and it came out OK. I've posted some pictures here http://s1341.photobu...iller1/library/ First photo is original finish - second is after buffing as above- they may appear in wrong order but they are there personally, I don't think the difference is enough to attempt. I've lived with the satin finish on my Masterbilt for so long that I don't even notice it. I think if it bothers you though; go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickthemiller Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 personally, I don't think the difference is enough to attempt. I've lived with the satin finish on my Masterbilt for so long that I don't even notice it. I think if it bothers you though; go for it! Sorry if this is getting tedious for some folk - me banging on about my new acquisition, but.... I just picked up the guitar and it seems, already, to be taking on a different feel and look. The finish is beginning to buff up with just my handling it over the past two days. I may leave it and see how it goes. Once again sorry about my going on and on and on and on...................................................................... I do wish that someone else would get one - or that there would appear a review on Youtube so that there was at least another point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Sorry if this is getting tedious for some folk - me banging on about my new acquisition, but.... I just picked up the guitar and it seems, already, to be taking on a different feel and look. The finish is beginning to buff up with just my handling it over the past two days. I may leave it and see how it goes. Once again sorry about my going on and on and on and on...................................................................... I do wish that someone else would get one - or that there would appear a review on Youtube so that there was at least another point of view. no worries about going on and on...this is the place for it! I'm sure more will be showing up soon on the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photodusty Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Yeah keep going on and on! I do find it strange that you are the only one with one so far....nothing on youtube or any other forum either. Pretty cool we get your view of it though. Thanks for that! db Sorry if this is getting tedious for some folk - me banging on about my new acquisition, but.... I just picked up the guitar and it seems, already, to be taking on a different feel and look. The finish is beginning to buff up with just my handling it over the past two days. I may leave it and see how it goes. Once again sorry about my going on and on and on and on...................................................................... I do wish that someone else would get one - or that there would appear a review on Youtube so that there was at least another point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffmac Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I love it the border sets it off nicely, juries out on the pick guard but I love the looks over all. CONGRATS and enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I think John Lennon started the whole unfinished guitar wood can breathe thing...or at least brought it into the public thought. He claimed someone told him his J160 would sound better without the then psychedelic paint finish it had on it (after that replaced the sunburst finish). At that point he had the paint and sunburst finish removed (which I assume was underneath the psychedelic paint job). He also did the same finish stripping to his Casino. From there, people seemed to quote the unfinished wood thing sounding better....which still goes on. In all likelihood, as his J160 was a laminate top, it probably never actually sounded good acoustically to begin with, although it recorded quite cool. Probably the psychedelic paint job took away some of its original J16O sound and in all likelihood someone was probably comparing the J160 laminate sound to a solid top sound and certainly could conclude the psychedelic paint job was hurting the sound. Photos I've seen of it with the paint job, don't exactly look factory finished-like. The Casino, being a thin line hollow body, probably never sounded on par with a solid top acoustic anyhow..,with its original finish or stripped. Thin line's never do. I agree with a prior poster. I have guitars with a variety of finishes and can't say the finish or lack of improves or makes any difference. Each guitar just sounds unique based on all kinds of other factors. Just thought I'd add some background on where this lack of finish thing may have started in the public domain. All this is of course just speculation based on my first ever hearing of such circa late 60's. John Lennon never seemed to be too technical about guitars based on my public memory of him and books I've read. He was just a player, not a techie. Could also be he screwed up his J160 with the psychedelic paint job and made up a reason to tell the press why he removed it. Interestly, he didn't really seem to play the stripped J160 or Casino in his solo years based on photos and book archiving. If they were so much better with stripped finishes one would think he'd have continued playing them for many years forward until his untimely passing... Just some food for thought. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromnabulax Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I was one if those young Beatlemaniac's that completely sanded down an old beat up acoustic Yamaha I used to have. After all, if John said it was better.... In truth, it sounded pretty much the same, but it actually felt better and fretted more easily without a gallon of sticky finish on the neck. It also left every bit if sweat, grease and gunk visible as well as ingrained into the wood. I figure this whole satin finish thing is simply the latest fad. They come, they go.I'm not real fond of the satin finish overall, but I do have a nice new Martin 00015 SM which is actually suited to it. Does it make the mahogany sound any better, or any more like mahogany? No, but on this guitar it's pretty. On my Gibson Les Paul 50s Tribute, not so much. As to ripping out the battery case and soundhole preamp on tat Martin, I wound up doing the same on my Gibson J200. I replaced all that glued in stuff with a Baggs M1A and never regretted it. I have a Baggs M80 on order now Which I'll try in there next and if that works out I'll pop the M1A into my Martin D35. I actually and honestly prefer the Esonic stuff in my Epiphone EJ200 and DR500 MCE to that terrible stuff they built into the Gibson J200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete- Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Sorry if this is getting tedious for some folk - me banging on about my new acquisition, but.... I just picked up the guitar and it seems, already, to be taking on a different feel and look. The finish is beginning to buff up with just my handling it over the past two days. I may leave it and see how it goes. Once again sorry about my going on and on and on and on...................................................................... I do wish that someone else would get one - or that there would appear a review on Youtube so that there was at least another point of view. How about a youtube video from you? You got a decent mic? Would love to hear it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodger11 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Just to add my 2 cents (or 2 bob since I'm Irish), I sanded down my AJ100. It was a friend's who couldn't get the hang of it and he donated to me. The laquer was really thick, almost like someone painted it on with a brush. After sanding it definitely sounded a bit sweeter and slightly louder (to me). It looked a lot better too (I took off the scratchplate too which was cheap looking). I have since passed it on to a friend's son (whose brother has just qualified to box in the Rio olympics!); don't even know if he's playing it or not... Another thing - Epiphone's solid tops sound way better than their laminates but even the laminates for the price point are very good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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