jerome_travis Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Anyone has these models? They look very un-Epiphone and seem much smaller than the normal archtop size! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 They're really Epiphone only in the name... they were models already being produced by Aria when Gibson contracted them to produce the earliest Asian Epiphones. They just put an Epiphone headstock on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome_travis Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 I see.. Someone selling one on Ebay that's made in the Kalamazoo factory actually. It sounds pretty okay I guess.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I see.. Someone selling one on Ebay that's made in the Kalamazoo factory actually. It sounds pretty okay I guess.. No, they're made in Japan by Aria/Lyle/Matsumoku. They have labels that say Kalamazoo, that's where the corporate headquarters were. Proceeed at your own risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome_travis Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 are they really that bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 are they really that bad? They were inexpensive guitars with bolt on necks. Typical '60s / early '70s Japanese quality, nowhere near the quality of a modern day Dot or Sheraton. Cheap hardware (especially the tuners), and the neck pockets are weak. Ok for a cheap, trashy guitar, but not worth the prices I've seen them go for. Look for the Aria version, it will probably be 1/2 the cost for the same axe. Gibson stopped making Epiphones in 1970, but they wanted an import line to compete in the growing market. They went to Matsumoku and literally picked the model that looked like a 335 out of a catalog and ordered them with the Epiphone logo. Gibson had no part in designing them. Now there are people out there who love them, to each his own, but I would not recommend buying one. Just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrmatt Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 They were inexpensive guitars with bolt on necks. Typical '60s / early '70s Japanese quality' date=' nowhere near the quality of a modern day Dot or Sheraton. Cheap hardware (especially the tuners), and the neck pockets are weak. Ok for a cheap, trashy guitar, but not worth the prices I've seen them go for. Look for the Aria version, it will probably be 1/2 the cost for the same axe. Gibson stopped making Epiphones in 1970, but they wanted an import line to compete in the growing market. They went to Matsumoku and literally picked the model that looked like a 335 out of a catalog and ordered them with the Epiphone logo. Gibson had no part in designing them. Now there are people out there who love them, to each his own, but I would not recommend buying one. Just my opinion. [/quote'] As usual jerrymac is correct. I've always wanted to get a EA-250 if the price was right but lately the ones in reasonably good shape on ebay have been going for $400-500 and in some cases more, just a bit more that I think one is worth. Like everything the value is in the eye of the beholder. mgm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 In a word: junk. The Epiphone Dot Studio is 1,000 times better. You couldn't give me one of those Arias for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unreal77 Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I love 250s but mine has a serious problem on the binding at the neck, i was thinking of getting another in good shape, but the prices on ebay are somehow crazy... I think i'll get something for mine and look for a riviera with full sized HBs... I dont know, mine provided good service for many years, and it felt good but I guess a korean riviera will be better... lets see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siw Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Have managed to pick up a EA 250 at a good price, only problem is it is minus it's wam bar. Just wondering if a Bigsby would fit or if im best just getting a trapeze tail like on a Casino, also the nut is a lot wider than the neck, could you get a replacement nut. Many thanks Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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