sensei Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 My limited knowledge of guitars, I've always known that Epiphone was inferior. After a little research, I imagine they aren't all. It looks like in the 70s they started manufacturing in Japan and lowering the quality. But, are these early ones OK? I ask because I'm looking at buying one. I don't know the year, but it seemed fairly old and sounded pretty decent. The label inside the body said EA-850 (or EA-950, it was smudged). It also said Kalamazoo, MI and Made in Japan. Anyone have a good price range I should pay for this? It worked and didn't have any major dents or dings I could tell. Neck was decent shape and not warped. Here is a bad picture, and you can only see partial body (basically a useless pic). But, it's the red body up top.
brad1 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Could it be an EA-250? If that's what it is, and it's in decent shape, I'd try to get it! What are they asking for it?
LPS1976 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 My limited knowledge of guitars, I've always known that Epiphone was inferior. After a little research, I imagine they aren't all. It looks like in the 70s they started manufacturing in Japan and lowering the quality. But, are these early ones OK? I ask because I'm looking at buying one. I don't know the year, but it seemed fairly old and sounded pretty decent. The label inside the body said EA-850 (or EA-950, it was smudged). It also said Kalamazoo, MI and Made in Japan. Anyone have a good price range I should pay for this? It worked and didn't have any major dents or dings I could tell. Neck was decent shape and not warped. Here is a bad picture, and you can only see partial body (basically a useless pic). But, it's the red body up top. how much do they want for it?
wiggy Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 INFERIOR!!? To be fair he did seem to be implying that he'd seen the light and regretted his earlier heinous beliefs. BTW Sensei - Welcome aboard
sensei Posted September 18, 2014 Author Posted September 18, 2014 Sorry, may have ran my mouth in the wrong place! ;) I just meant that when I go to Guitar Center or something the new Epiphones always top off around $600, while the Gibsons are in the thousands. I know they make all kinds of levels. It's an auction so no asking price yet.
sensei Posted September 18, 2014 Author Posted September 18, 2014 Oh and yes. I guess it could be a 250 too. The "2" spot is rubbed off mostly
Jeffery Smith Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 My favorite resophonic is a Gibson Dobro Hound Dog, and they aren't all that expensive. I think I paid about $800 for mine a few years ago.
cody78 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Epiphone hollow bodies are very good. I have a couple (an ES 175 and a Broadway) and whilst they aren't as warm, full or sweet sounding as my Gibson hollows, they are brilliant for the money. Both of mine are Korean and slightly better in terms of workmanship than some of the Chinese ones. They are both really nice to play. Also, many people don't know or forget that Epiphone was once a rival to Gibson and made instruments equally as good if not better back in days of old. Even as a 'budget' brand, Epiphone still produce some wonderful guitars.
Bender 4 Life Posted September 19, 2014 Posted September 19, 2014 is it a bolt on or "set" (glued in) neck??
sensei Posted September 19, 2014 Author Posted September 19, 2014 It was a bolt on. It sold for $450 I think. I didn't want to pay more than 200 or 300 since I was looking at other instruments - which all sold for over what I was looking at. Oh well. Good to know! is it a bolt on or "set" (glued in) neck??
Parabar Posted September 19, 2014 Posted September 19, 2014 The EA-250 is one of the reasons that cheap Japanese guitars were so reviled in the seventies. Terrible pickups, dodgy construction, frets often misaligned, etc. etc. There are a few people who like them for their sentimental or quirky qualities, but there are MUCH MUCH better instruments available now for similar prices. A Dot (or even a Dot Studio) is so far superior as to be laughable. Save your money and lots of grief --- buy something better!
bobouz Posted September 19, 2014 Posted September 19, 2014 The EA-250 is one of the reasons that cheap Japanese guitars were so reviled in the seventies. Terrible pickups, dodgy construction, frets often misaligned, etc. etc. There are a few people who like them for their sentimental or quirky qualities, but there are MUCH MUCH better instruments available now for similar prices. A Dot (or even a Dot Studio) is so far superior as to be laughable. Save your money and lots of grief --- buy something better! Yup, what Parabar said. Don't go there!
Jeffery Smith Posted September 19, 2014 Posted September 19, 2014 Remember the Teisco and St. George guitars? Louisville slugger necks back in the 60s.
vomer Posted September 19, 2014 Posted September 19, 2014 I was given an EA250 and much of what is said above is correct. The necks though are very thin, and narrow, not to everyone's liking. Also bolt-on, and this combination gives an unstable bendy feel to the neck. The body is fully hollow and the whole effect is of a fairly fragile instrument. The pickups were single coil on the earlier ones and humbuckers later. Fretwork is excellent though frets are low, and the board is very dark and hard with tight grain, a very nice slick player. The single coils are low output, 3.4K, and not greatly loved here on the forum, though as long as you settle for a low gain sound and are happy with an early 60's sound they can be OK. I'm either keeping mine so my daughter can have an easy playing electric if she starts to play, or I have a fantasy of building a baritone neck for it. I estimate the amount of adjustment available from the floating bridge would allow it. And that could be fun. But I wouldn't go out of my way to get one.
milod Posted September 19, 2014 Posted September 19, 2014 Quality always is somewhat subjective, and not always price sensitive. The era from WWII into the late '80s had some pretty wild fluctuations in terms of what was good and what wasn't so good from various manufacturers. The "lawsuit" Japanese-made instruments of the '70s, for example, could range from better-than-gibson-fender to "Oh, my goodness they must have used orange crate wood." U.S. manufacturerers were gaining a rep of, if not lousy quality control, at least of variations in overall quality. I won't even get into that one. The older I get the more convinced that each picker will find instruments that work at various levels for what he/she expects - and that's assuming there's no major broken bit, or weakness in the wood or whatever. Current Epis I've had my hands on are, IMHO, not just good values, but incredible values. Epis from the Gibson purchase to current ... well, I think much has to do with an individual instrument, its design, strings, playability factors for a given picker, etc. You'll find some who may claim that the Epis from Japan are among the best; some proclaim that for the Korean batches, Indonesia, current China manufacture. Others may claim this or that "type" and time are horrid. "Value" of a used instrument also is subjective. Then again, I'd not care to spend much on a relatively unknown quantity if I haven't had the opportunity to try to play it. I'll freely admit to being reticent about buying an older instrument regardless of brand without an opportunity to inspect it and play it enough to see if it fits my pickin' "Way." m
Jeffery Smith Posted September 19, 2014 Posted September 19, 2014 I have a Korean-made Sheraton and a Korean-made Gretsch 5129, and both were factory "seconds". I can't find a thing wrong with either one of them. Things have been good in the past decade.
fretplay Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 A may have got this wrong but I understood Epiphone EA 250 were made by Matsumoku in Japan one of the finest makers in the world. Surely they didn't turn out production as fellow members say?
rct Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 A may have got this wrong but I understood Epiphone EA 250 were made by Matsumoku in Japan one of the finest makers in the world. Surely they didn't turn out production as fellow members say? They sure did. The problem with legends is, well, they're legends. Everyone agrees that the word Fender on a guitar means "Be Wary And Try A Bunch", but somehow the name Matsumoku means they all are just divine. They weren't and every time I see some auction spouting about the greatest guitars in the world ever I just laugh. "Quality" is a great word to use to sell something when you don't or can't say why the buyer should buy it. Most of us jaded geezers remember those not so great days well and don't have a house full of Japanese guitars because of those days. rct
Cougar Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 ...there are MUCH MUCH better instruments available now for similar prices. A Dot (or even a Dot Studio) is so far superior as to be laughable. Agree! Check out a Dot. Or an Epi ES-335 Pro (same price, but probably not as readily available in the used market). Best of luck!
crust Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 If I could check it out, and it played OK, and it was a reasonable price, maybe around 300 bucks, I might get it. In the picture you put up, it looks like it's in good enough shape. So, maybe they weren't the greatest guitars Epiphone ever produced...but if it's in good shape, and the right price...go for it, It is a cool "novelty" guitar..."why Epiphone got a bad name"...lol...Still, it probably "plays" just fine. I'd like to try it out just to see how "bad" it really is...I bet it's "badaxx"...lol
fretplay Posted October 8, 2014 Posted October 8, 2014 They sure did. The problem with legends is, well, they're legends. Everyone agrees that the word Fender on a guitar means "Be Wary And Try A Bunch", but somehow the name Matsumoku means they all are just divine. They weren't and every time I see some auction spouting about the greatest guitars in the world ever I just laugh. "Quality" is a great word to use to sell something when you don't or can't say why the buyer should buy it. Most of us jaded geezers remember those not so great days well and don't have a house full of Japanese guitars because of those days. rct Well I'll take your word for it RTC and as you are backed up by other members it seems the general consensus is that an EA 250 is a piece of rubbish. You have to speak as you find and for myself I have to say I have never seen anything other that excellent out of the Matsumoku factory. I own a 1982 Casino Matsumoku made and a 1966 Gibson ES330 US made and they are very similar in all ways however when push comes to shove I prefer the Casino. There was a thread a few months ago on underrated guitars and made in Japan Fujigen, Terada, Matsumoku early 70s to mid 80s factories were raved about by many members here. The Ibanez 2464 Byrdland copy early 70s Fujigen made guitar is just superb and will sell here in Europe ( when they do appear on the market) in hours. The last one I saw went for $3000 Still a better guitar and half the price of a Byrdland. I can only guess the factory that made rubbish EA 250s had to make to a price and you can't get a silk purse out of a sows ear!
'Scales Posted October 9, 2014 Posted October 9, 2014 I own 2 Matsumoku made guitars - both solid body Aria/Aria Pro's. The 1983/84 guitar is fantastic, I happily use it in live shows and it feels, performs and sounds like a quality instrument to the extent that I have no desire for a 'real' strat. The mid-1970's SG style guitar is basically no more than a toy. Good enough for my kids to get started on (lightest solid body I've ever known), but nothing more, absolutely nothing more.
rct Posted October 9, 2014 Posted October 9, 2014 I own 2 Matsumoku made guitars - both solid body Aria/Aria Pro's. The 1983/84 guitar is fantastic, I happily use it in live shows and it feels, performs and sounds like a quality instrument to the extent that I have no desire for a 'real' strat. The mid-1970's SG style guitar is basically no more than a toy. Good enough for my kids to get started on (lightest solid body I've ever known), but nothing more, absolutely nothing more. I gigged an Aria Pro II for a couple years back then. Crazy locking trem on it, two hums and a single crammed into it. It rocked, well made and as reliable as any guitar with that sort of abominable bridge on it. rct
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