clarkuss Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Just to throw this in the mix. When I first started buying epiphones everybody raved about the peerless plant and i've always thought the contruction there was excellent but I also have a very sturdy Unsung Casino, own and have played numerous lovely samick Dots and Sheratons and my own Dot Deluxe is from the saein plant and stands up to the other guitars I own. For me it's a tough call because I think the three big ones (Peerless, Unsung and Samick) are all fantastic but also equally revered because they're the most widespread. Obviously not everyone has played one of every type and not everyone is a guitar expert (me especially) but it would be interesting to see what everyone thinks. Please post a reply as well and state your opinion as well as what you've tried and owned so that the poll doesn't merely reflect what people have rather than what they prefer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I go for Unsung. They had really "cracked" the Sheraton by the time, er, Epiphone snatched it away from them and started to build those crappy new ones in Qingdao. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 It is a tough call. I went with Peerless because my Lucille was made there, and that is a great axe. I also had a Sorrento and a couple of Rivieras that were Peerless, and they were top notch as well. The original Samick Sherrys were equally nice, a close second IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrmatt Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I voted for Peerless. I have Epis from various Korean plants but my absolote go to guitars are my 05 Casino and my 96 Riviera both made at the Peerless plant and both are flawless. mgm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 I also went for Peerless. This was based on the fact that while all my other guitars are great the two Peerless that I won (and a couple I no longer have) felt that little bit more uniquly crafted. It's probably just bias but I love those two Peerless guitars more than my other epi semis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I cannot comment on the Peerless, but the Samick's Dot is great, and I'm happy with the two Unsungs I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodice Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Peerless for me. my 05 Peerless Dot was flawless, but my 08 Unsung Sheraton had one or two wee things, but maybe thats because there is more to fault on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vomer Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I can't comment on the other factories, but my Saein Sheraton is a mixed bag. Superb overall finish but a flaw in the base coat on the body which you can only see in certain lights, (not Guitar Center ones ; or Epi QC come to that- it's not a 2nd), neck fantastic feel, binding, frets, but 16" radius; pickups muddy and screechy. With mods, definitely a keeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acewarslave Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I have two unsung epis and love the guitars very much there made very well,soon i will have a saein standard so i will have somthing to compare them with i cant wait.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskank Sally Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 For the 90's it was definitely Peerless and Samick, but Unsung Korea (U) still builds Epiphones today. My Unsung Korea 2007 Firebird Studio has the best weight/tone/feel, and the fret job is like it was tended to/polished-crowned before it left the factory. No buzz anywhere, even after dropped to Eb tuning. After removing the pickguard I found there was no black shielding paint in there, just a bunch of beautifully thick slab of wood deep golden blonde in color. (The shielding was all over the back of the pickguard) The Dimarzio Tone Zone I put in really makes the sound of this Firebird jump out. Rich, deep tones. There was no neck diving from my Firebird...it stays level. Thanks UNSUNG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Based on the Epiphone's I own and ones I have seen or played I have to say Peerless plant for me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster007 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Based on what I own and have played.. It is Peerless. Maybe they should go back to the Peerless factory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiberna Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Peerless, because they really did make insanely good rivieras back in 97. Both of which are mine. and i love them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 I'm really surprised by the responses. I thought that the majority of people would have put samick and unsung as those the two most frequently talked about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarpBoy Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 It is a tough call. I went with Peerless because my Lucille was made there' date=' and that is a great axe. I also had a Sorrento and a couple of Rivieras that were Peerless, and they were top notch as well. The original Samick Sherrys were equally nice, a close second IMO. [/quote'] Off topic, Jerrymac, but seeing your Flamekat reminded me of a Toronto band fronted by the owner of one of Canada's larger domain registrars. Check 'em out: The Parkdale Hookers Mark plays a Flamekat. Pretty cool little guitar. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyFingers Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 PEERLESS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beverlyvista2 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Stupid question long after this thread went to sleep -- anybody got an idea which factory did/is doing the Flying V basses that Guitar Center has now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedgeSG Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Hard to really say much here as I've got three Unsungs and one Samick. I like my Unsungs and can't find fault with any of them, but my Samick just seems more comfortable and the neck joint profile is smoother for sure. Might be a tad better balanced as well, comparing g-400 to g-400's. This is off topic but I'll add it just since it's current. I've also got a g-400 EE, I've tried to find something to dislike about it and don't hold it in as high of reguard as my Korean built ones. It's my beater and test mule. Still, the fit, finish, and playabilty are right up there with my Samick and Unsungs, (allowing for wear). Recently, I looked at a white g-400 CustomShop with standard Epi pickups. Also an EE I was amazed at the difference in weight between it and my own EE built one. The newer white EE seemed to be much lighter, (like 2 or 3 pounds lighter). I would say the fit/finish on it was also probably better than my EE as well. Can somebody put up the list of serial prefix again that was a letter breakdown indicator for the plant production? I never can seem to remember them all. Wedgie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I forget the name of the factory ... but there were a lot of little Asian guys working there ... Damn! I wish I could remember, they made a pretty good guitar! :D Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I haven't tried them all, but my Peerless Casino is built every bit as nicely as my Kalamazoo ES-330 Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layboomo Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Both Peerless and Samick are neck and neck IMHO. Based on guitars I've owned and played I voted Samick. Not only did they build Great guitars for Epi,but the guitars they built for Vally Arts among others were also really top quality guitars for the $ at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 The poll no longer seems to be working (for me anyway) but, on personal experience, I would probably go for Peerless too. However, that's possibly biased by my having a Peerless guitar on order at the moment. I want to believe Peerless is good so I'll enjoy my new guitar and not think "Hmmm, that was a waste of money". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digger Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I've chosen Saein as rumor hath it that my AL2900 is made there and it is undoubtedly the best made guitar I have. I also have an Unsung Casino that is beautifully made but as 4 of the frets lifted and had to be reseated it has been relegated to second place in my mind. The 3 way switch has also crapped out and that's a pity as it is a beautiful guitar but for a $1000 AUD I expect better. No experience with the other Korean factories so I have to bow to the collective experience of those that have. Dig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Of the five Korean Epis I've owned (Dot, P93, Riviera, Emperor, Sheraton) the Peerless Riviera is easily the best made of the bunch. But even that pales in comparison to the build quality of the four Taiwan-made Genesis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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