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Epiphone Factories 1986 to Present


Vic Flick

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Where was your favorite modern era Epiphone made??? I've listed 9 Korean and Chinese factories, which do you think consistently makes / made the best quality instruments???

 

I've included the prefix codes, if you're guitar doesn't have the post 1993 serial numbers with the factory code, you can assume it's Samick.

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I'm voting for Samick as the only non-Japanese Epiphone I have or had is a Sheraton II that was built there. I really shouldn't vote as I can't compare em. Lol; if it were an option I would vote Terada.

 

Correction, my Masterbilts are not Japanese, hmm, where are they built?

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Yeah' date=' well, having Terada and FujiGen in the list would make the poll kind of redundant... different class altogether IMO.[/quote']

 

To say nothing of my 1993 Nashville-made Riviera and that line of Epiphones.

This is only going to show who owns the most from which factory here so it's pretty lame as far as any actual poll of quality goes.

 

...and Al's your uncle

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Hi Iconoclast, that 93 Nashville Riviera sounds interesting! I'm thinking of getting a 12 string and naturally have been looking for an Elitist. I was unaware of an American made iteration and am curious about it. Is yours a twelve string and if not did they make a twelve string? What can you tell us about it and can you share some pictures?

Svet

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I agree with Icon man, most will vote for the factory they have the most from.

Having said that, I am also having trouble voting. It won't take my vote, which is wierd because I have always been able to vote before. :- ](*,)

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Hi Iconoclast' date=' that 93 Nashville Riviera sounds interesting! I'm thinking of getting a 12 string and naturally have been looking for an Elitist. I was unaware of an American made iteration and am curious about it. Is yours a twelve string and if not did they make a twelve string? What can you tell us about it and can you share some pictures?

Svet

[/quote']

I'm working on the photo. Every time I've tried to upload photos it hangs for a bit and then says "IE Cannot display this page". I'm not sure if it's my connection or what is going on.... I even tried to put it in my avatar and it did the same thing. This week hasn't been real good as far this computer goes-time for a new one me thinks. If I can figure it out I'll pop one up (I think it's also a photo re-size issue as well since I tend to use the max resolution camera settings and the photo files are HUGE-this isn't my area of expertise)...anyway...The '93/'94 USA Epiphones were really limited production (250 of each) but they still come up for quite reasonable amounts on E Bay (now around $1500 for the Riviera.) The series was part of Epiphone's 100 Anniversary thing and they did limited runs of Emperors, Sheratons, Rivieras, Excellente's, (I think ) Frontiers and Texans in Nashville and Bozeman. 250 of each and they're maybe a bit above the standard Gibson runs but they're not really custom shop level (though some I've seen have the CS label.) They didn't come in 12 string versions but I'd say aside from the differences in finish the Elitist 12 string is probably about the same level of quality as these- maybe a bit more glitz with the Nashville (birdseye in the body veneer, figuring in the neck and back of the headstock(mahogany) "Gibson Deluxe"(probably Gotoh) Kluson-style machine heads-CTS pots etc-It's a Gibson ES-335 with a funny headstock, strange tail piece and mini pickups. I'm working on the photo so hopefully you can see it and get a better idea.

 

...and Al's your uncle.

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Hey Uncle Al, Did you try the resize option on the photobucket upload page?(upper right,above browse, on upload control panel) A couple other members needed to note this,and it helped.

Or are you having problems uploading to your computer?

Just wondering.

Daneman

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Hey Uncle Al' date=' Did you try the resize option on the photobucket upload page?(upper right,above browse, on upload control panel) A couple other members needed to note this,and it helped.

Or are you having problems uploading to your computer?

Just wondering.

Daneman[/quote']

I think it's my computer. I don't seem to be able to establish any kind of upload at Photobucket but I think it's a modem/connection/ something issue on my part. Early this week the monitor went south and I'm using one from like 1963..or 2003 or something until I can get to Micro Center. The computer is only a year and a half old-time for some upgrades but it's still a 3.2 Pent 4 with a gig of memory ...so it's not a complete door stop yet. I got the avatar thing to work by reducing the size of the photo but the quality sucks. This is what one has younger brothers for. I'll call him after he gets home from work. Might be time to make a new computer and I guess it's about time I learn this photo stuff lol.

 

...and Al's your uncle

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Neat Avatar anyhow.But now I miss the kitty' date='he/she isn't still lurking with that sniper rifle is he/she?

Just hoping I could help.Hopefully your little brother will be able to.

Nice kitty.Nice kitty. LOL[/quote']

 

Lee Harvey Hairball is still around...I'm just using the guitar photo(sucky quality- reduced 75% from the original) to try to figure some stuff out, it'll probably change a lot over the next few hours lol. I do appreciate any help offered so thanx for trying. I think it's a hardware (modem) problem... We shall see.

 

...and Al's your uncle

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Today/ Right Now/ The winner would be Quingdao.

SI is Samick Indonesia, and from what I've read/heard the Samick plant in Korea is strictly Pianos' now.

I can't see the point in getting anything Epiphone outside Quingdao built if at all possible especially when it comes to Todays G-400, LP, Dot, and many acoustic models. From what I've bought/held/played I'll say this.

This LP + is TIGHT. Much tighter than my G-400 Custom and maybe that's due to SG's size and tender appearing neck joint. The Custom is damn incredible in its own right especially that slab of wood. SH-6's never sounded so good., but it was a dog out of the box and I took many measures to make it a better playing guitar. It is.I attribute this to a good Luthier and a couple of new parts.

Samick. Sorry but I'm not too thrilled. I remember the days of their bloated production practices spitting out many gluey mal tuning instruments that sold for way above their worth.

My Vote is for Quingdao.

guits017.jpg

*Footnote: For the longest time I cited Saien the leader in Epi Production. They can keep 1st place for the Korean side.

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I have 2 Epis from the Saein factory (Casino and Viola)... Both are perfect.. The first '57 Junior I got from the DaeWon factory had a real crappy finish (I don't blame them for the cracks in the neck)... And the Dot I just bought is from the DaeWon factory, also has finish issues (stamped "Used").. Which brings me to my bolt-on Jr. which has a 'K' prefix.. I have no idea where that's from...

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Yeah' date=' well, having Terada and FujiGen in the list would make the poll kind of redundant... different class altogether IMO.[/quote']

 

Yeah but as a bit of fun it's fair enough.

It's taken as read [i would hope] that the Japanese stuff and the older USA product is of an altogether higher quality in terms of materials and finishing.

...and You don't need a poll to know that Fuji Gen and Terada guitars are uniformly well built and finished ! O:)

 

Just a bit of fun. Folks can only vote on what they've personally seen anyway...so it's hardly scientific unless we've all been globe hopping guitar retailers :-k

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Pardon me for being picky' date=' but I believe it should be "Gibson/QingDao" instead of QuingDao. =P~[/quote']

 

 

Yes, Spuds noted that already. This was cut & pasted from an old chart, I missed it and perpetuated the error. And because of this error, votes for Quing Dao will not be counted, and no delegates from that Province will be seated at the convention.

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Strictly based on my Epi herd.

 

Voted "S" as my #1 (Classic) was made there. My Goltop (warm like a LP should be) came from there as well, so that makes two. Still, my "DW" Standard is on par with the Goldtop so they turn out some good ones as well.

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  • 4 years later...

Difficult to make a comparison between factory quality for me.

All 3 of my Epi's are from Unsung. They are excellent examples from that plant,

so I'd be a little bias by that reckoning.

 

The Chinese models are improving daily, so I'll keep a close eye

on what comes out and perhaps aquire a model from Quing Dao if my wallet allows. :-"

 

Cheers

Paul

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