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Why is the EA 250 so popular


jonnyg

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Posted

I've been looking on ebay over the years and I've noticed that a lot of people bid on the EA 250 model from the 70's. I had one and frankly it was one of the worst guitars I ever owned. I changed pretty much everything but the neck was so flexible that it would never stay in tune and was probably not helped by the poor imitation of a Bigsby. The bolt on neck made it little better (and not disimilar to) a low budget guitar that was branded Columbus which you wouldn't have been seen dead with. I know two other people who owned this model and neither of them had anything good to say about them either and yet I've seen people bid up to £400.00 for one of these when a newer Casino would be twice the guitar for a similar cost. What exactly is it that makes them so "sought after".

Posted

I wish i could tell you. I have one and love it for what it is. So much i plan on getting another one that is in better shape that the one i currently own.

 

Sure the prices are sky rocketing dont know why...

 

 

Maybe they should do one now with better specs.

Posted

They're old. Anything old = good.

 

They have a slightly cheesy-vintage tone from very low output pickups which some people might like. Through my modded Valve Jr. its quite usable for 50's style blues & rock'n'roll. The neck is very thin and not too comfortable, but plays very fast if you can get the bridge low enough. I've put a 3mm thick piece of maple in the neck pocket- the whole thing, not a shim at one end, to get a playable action. Very nice rosewood board.

 

I was given mine, I wouldn't buy one at anything like £400. In the flesh they look gorgeous, the cherry red really shines.

 

Edit to add: I do actually like it, I think I made it sound like I didn't, but I'm aware of it's limitations.

Posted

I had one years ago, it was horrible. It became known as "The Feedback Guitar" in my band and wouldn't stay in tune for more than half a song. Tiny neck, too. Needless to say, it's long gone....

Posted

I've got one. I've posted here about it before.

 

I've had the ea-250 (a gift) for about 20 years. It's never been in proper playing condition. The neck needs shimmed, and I bought a trapeze tailpiece to relplace the sorry excuse for a trem system. I keep telling myself that someday I'll try to fix it up, but that day never seems to come.

 

Actually, I'm starting to wonder why the hell I've hauled this guitar around with me for so long.

 

Dylan

Posted

As pohatu771 says, they have been produced under different names, and in different colours to the Epiphone red. There have been a couple on UK ebay in the last few weeks, an Aria in sunburst like that bass, and a (I think) unbranded one with a Matsumoku sticker, in green. I never would have considered a green guitar but that one looked good. They went for a lot less than EA250's.

Posted

I've always wanted one as a project guitar but most on ebay in the US go for more than I think they are worth and in the UK they seem to go even higher and some of the asking prices on craigslist are $500+. I think vomer is on to it, most people think that since it's a 70's Epiphone guitar it's automatically valuable. There is defenitely no middle ground on the EA-250 people either love them or think that they are total crap.

 

 

mgm

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