Epiphone 940-EDREAD Hardcase

[Rich b]

Apols if this is an old subject

 

Why is it impossible to buy in the UK a Epiphone 940-EDREAD Hardcase for Dreadnought Guitars?

 

Is it because the build quality is not as good as a specialist case maker? I have just purchased a Epiphone DR-500MCE Masterbilt advertised as having a case - guess what?

[jimitom]

Hey Rich b,

I'm sorry but I can't help you with the hardcase availability info, but I was wondering about you buying a DR-500MCE in Europe (UK)??? Is it available in UK an did you buy a Vintage sunburst or Natural??? Please I would appreciate any information because I have ordered it a few months ago and I'm still waiting. Thanks man.. I know this is a little off topic.

[Mike54]

I'd also be interested in knowing which model you are getting, and when.

 

Have you called Thomann and checked with them about ordering a case? I know here in the US Musician's Friend has them for sale.

 

Don't mean to go off topic again, but regarding the availability of the DR-500MCE, especially in sunburst, I emailed Bob Burns in customer service again because he had responded to a previous email question I sent him. I emailed him because the availability date for the sunburst keeps getting moved out.

 

My email to Bob Burns on July 28:

Bob,

Several folks on the Epiphone forum and a friend or two of mine have been waiting as patiently as possible for this guitar. As you are probably aware, the original projected availability date was May 1. A few of the natural finish models were available, but none of the sunburst. One guy on the forum found one in an independent shop in Denton Texas, but other than that, no sunburst. Now the Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend websites have moved the expected date back to Aug 6, and they’re still only listing the Natural. In June, there was a picture on the Epi blog of a technician in Nashville doing a setup on a sunburst, with a whole wall of boxes behind him.

So what gives? Please give me some intel on what the hold up is and when we’ll be able to purchase.

 

Thank you,

Mike

 

His reply back on July 29:

Hello Mike,

 

Epiphone started shipping the vintage sunburst finish back in June of 2010. It is currently on backorder, but more are expected to be available in about 45 days. Thanks.

 

Best regards,

 

Bob Burns

 

But Guitarcenter.com, musiciansfriend etc., now says expected availability 8/16. Hmmm...that's not 45 days from 7/29. What do you think will happen on 8/15?

 

I also wonder who they shipped all of those to in June, because none of the major 4 or 5 dealers had them available in sunburst. We had the one forum member who found two in the shop in Texas, but where did all of the others go?

 

Mike

[YerDugliness]

My email to Bob Burns on July 28:

Bob' date='

Several folks on the Epiphone forum and a friend or two of mine have been waiting as patiently as possible for this guitar. As you are probably aware, the original projected availability date was May 1. A few of the natural finish models were available, but none of the sunburst. One guy on the forum found one in an independent shop in Denton Texas, but other than that, no sunburst. Now the Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend websites have moved the expected date back to Aug 6, and they’re still only listing the Natural. In June, there was a picture on the Epi blog of a technician in Nashville doing a setup on a sunburst, with a whole wall of boxes behind him.

So what gives? Please give me some intel on what the hold up is and when we’ll be able to purchase.

 

Thank you,

Mike

 

His reply back on July 29:

Hello Mike,

 

Epiphone started shipping the vintage sunburst finish back in June of 2010. It is currently on backorder, but more are expected to be available in about 45 days. Thanks.

 

Best regards,

 

Bob Burns

[/quote']

 

Mike, it's too bad the "old" Epiphone forum threads aren't available...you should read my thread regarding the purchase of my AJ500RC.....over the span of 2 years I (through my Sweetwater representative) got no less than 6 predicted delivery dates, each of which was not met, until I had finally given up and was ready to cancel the order, then the guitar arrived (no longer available, "DISCONTINUED").

 

I hope your experience is not like mine, but just wanted you to know not to put too much stock in Epiphone/Gibson's predicted delivery dates.

 

I'm just sayin.....

 

Hope it works out better for you!

 

Dugly :)

[Rich b]

I purchased the Epiphone Masterbuilt DR500MCE Electro Acoustic in Vintage Sunburst from a Epiphone dealer called Andertons Music Co in the south of England UK mid June. I was told they had limited stock possibly only the one I purchased.

 

I have seen the natural on sale in Liverpool UK but not seen the Vintage. Vintage looks a whole lot better than the natural (my view) hope this helps.

 

Great looking guitar needs some work on the setup as the action is high and string guage is heavy

[Mike54]

Rich,

Glad to hear you got one of the bursts. While I think both models look great, I love the look of the sunburst.

 

Post some pictures when you can. We love pictures.

 

Dugly,

I've been reading this forum for 3 or 4 years, and I did follow your trials and tribulations at the time. It was like a soap opera. I kept tuning in to find out what was happening next. No fun for you I'm sure, but it was like 1001 Arabian Nights for the rest of us. I think everyone reading the forum at the time felt like we shared a teeny part of the victory when you finally got it. I'm actually following the DR500MCE saga for a friend I jam with every week. He has 5 or 6 acoustics, but they're all natural finishes. He has placed an order with the local GC for the Sunburst, but they can't really tell him anything about delivery dates either. I know I'll be able to get some playing time in on it once he has it, so that's been my motivation.

 

Mike

[TxStrat]

My apologies if I continue to take this further off topic, but I thought I would share my experience with trying to order the Sunburst D500MCE from Guitar Center. I am the member that finally found one in a small shop in Denton TX... Anyway, VERY long story made as short as possible... GC said they ordered me a Sunburst and kept pushing the date back. When I started to push back hard, they came back and told me that they couldn't order the Sunburst, they could only order the Natural. Keep in mind when I paid for the Sunburst to be ordered they gave me a Natural to play while I was waiting (that was very kind of them, but I was so affraid of scratching it, I didn't play it much). Anyway, I took the Natural back and showed the GC Sales guy the Sunburst Model on the Epi web site. Funny thing is that GC was saying you can't order the Sunburst and the Epi Web site didn't mention a Natural.. After taking the Natural back to GC. I started the quest of finding it somewhere else. Luckily I found it in Denton TX which is about 30 miles North of where I live.

 

On a side note... When you purchase a guitar from Sky Guitars in Denton, it includes a set up, and this guy is a luthier who happens to sell guitars, instead of a guitar salesman, who pretends to be a Luthier. Anyway, he had 2 D500MCEs in stock, but the first one he pulled out, he couldn't get the neck adjusted correctly. He took the second one out and set it up for me, including a new offset bridge (which I didin't have to pay for). He sent the other one back to Epiphone. I wonder if they are having problems with the necks on these guitars and that's what's holding up the shipments?? I don't want to start any rumors, I am just conveying the information that was given to me....

 

OH and I LOVE my D500MCE. I have a Breedlove that I paid close to 2000.00 for and the Epi is my goto acoustic right now.

[diverden]

Not trying to plug them, but I got my EDread case from Sweetwater.com without any problem. Only took 2 weeks.

[TommyK]

Take the purveyor of said guit tar sans case to task and make him cough on up. If he false advertised, you got him by the short hairs on the back of his neck.