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Does the Epiphone Master built sound good?

ponty

By ponty
in Gibson Acoustic

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Mojorule

Mojorule

Posted
Posted

I came across this video of Russ Barrenburg - Never heard of him till today.

He seems to be a Gibson/Epi man. In this vid he plays the Epi Master built.

It sound very very good!

http://youtu.be/h0wCwBXfMx4

 

He also sounds good on his banner 45 - which has laminated maple back and sides apparently.

EuroAussie

EuroAussie

Posted
Posted

Id say he'd be able to make most gutars sound good, but that Masterbuilt certainly sounded good. My personal experience with the masterbuils Ive played has been pretty disappointing, but Im sure there are good ones out there that others have come across.

Red 333

Red 333

Posted
Posted

I've got nine Gibson acoustics, but I also have a bunch of Epis, four being Masterbilts. Mine are all from the first few years of production. These are well made from quality materials--solid wood, one-piece neck, Grover tuners, bone nuts and saddles (models with pick ups have a Tusq saddle or something similar), etc. They sound really good. Not a Gibson sound, exactly (they are more chordal sounding and drenched in harmonics), but very pleasing just the same.

 

The guitar on the top left, the 12-fret cedar/rosewood AJ-500 RC is among the best sounding guitars I own.

 

Top: Masterbilt 12-fret cedar/rosewood AJ-500RC, sitka/rosewood AJ-500R, sitka/mahogany DR-500M. I also have a sitka/mahogany AJ-500M which is not pictured.

 

252xj.jpg

 

I've noticed lately that the wood used on some of the new ones is a bit plainer and not as distinctly grained, and the headstock inlays don't seem to have the same depth. The gloss ones in particular don't look as good to me as the satin models, especially compared to those made a few years ago. Epiphone has barely changed their price since they introduced them in 2004, so I'm sure they've switched to slightly less attractive wood and some cheaper inlay material to keep costs stable (they also eliminated the nice case which Masterbilts came with for the first few years). The newer models I've seen in stores still seem to play and sound fine, though, they are well worth auditioning.

 

Cosmetic issues aside, Epiphone did make one significant change to the Masterbilt line since its introduction. In the last couple of years, they began making the AJ models with dimensions truer to the Gibson AJ shape. Before that, the Masterbilts were a bit squatter and had a wider waist.

 

I'm not sure of this, but I think the first guitar to receive this new body shape was the "Inspired By 1964 Texan," which was introduced to great acclaim. Several of our forum members have them and say great things about them, including dhanners623, who records and performs regularly with his. While it's not designated a Masterbilt, it's basically an AJ-500M with a different headstock and inlays. Since the sides are laminated, Epiphone uses some pretty good-looking wood on these. This is another very good, bargain-priced (compared to a Gibson) Epiphone well worth checking out.

 

Red 333

brannon67

brannon67

Posted
Posted

I play two Masterbilts. AJ500R and AJ500M. Both are great guitars. They are the ones I use mostly to gig with. I bought them both new/old stock, at a local music store, I got a great deal on both. I had an LR Baggs Element VT intalled in both of them. They are my main gigging guitars I play out. They sound great, and look great.

brannon67

brannon67

Posted
Posted

Great video, thanks for posting that. Looks like he is playing an AJ500R(Rosewood). The rosewood model has the binding on the headstock, where the AJ500M(mahogany) does not. Great guitar. I gots one myself.

onewilyfool

onewilyfool

Posted
Posted

I played a '67 Epi Texan today........The nut width was less than 1 5/8" and the neck felt like an electric guitar!!!!.....lol....sounded pretty good, though....even though I could hardly play it!

Jinder

Jinder

Posted
Posted

The Epi Masterbilts are great, in my opinion. The one to have (if you can find it, it's now discontinued) is the DR500P, the Maple Dread...basically a Dove with a different headstock. These sound great.

 

As Red333 mentioned, the Epi Inspired By '64 Texan is brilliant too-I very nearly bought one of these but missed out as they were a ltd edition...more fool me.

Red 333

Red 333

Posted
Posted

Cool Red333. You got a AJ500RC. Awesome. I wish I could get my hands on one of those.

 

I was very lucky. I just happened to be looking at AMS one day, and they had one in stock, and since it was the last one, it was on sale. This was long after the AJ-500RC 12-Fret had been unavailable for some time, so Epiphone or AMS must have found a single piece of old stock in some warehouse of somewhere, and put it up for sale. I was able to find the case for it not too long after, too. It's really a wonderful guitar.

 

Aside from how it sounds (awesome), I like that it's not simply another Epiphone version of a classic Gibson model, or a riff on their familiar components. It's a combination of rarely used features not usually found on an Epi, or most Gibsons, for that matter. Its 12 clear frets, rosewood sides, and straight (rather than belly) bridge evoke a Roy Smeck Radio Grande; the use of the sloped-sided diamond inlays instead of the common dots give it a *dash* of a Roy Smeck's panache, or some other model with unique, fancy inlays; the hefty V neck could've come from an early J like the Original Jumbo; the slotted headstock isn't very common to Gibson, except to Orville himself. Stuff like that makes the AJ-500RC 12-Fret feel like some wierd 30's one-off made from left-overs from the parts bin.

 

On the Henry J forum, I encouraged Jim Rosenberg, the president of Epiphone, to make some more of these. I told him what a great reputation they had, and how lots of people on various forums said they are looking for one. He said that during the time it was in production, it was a very poor seller, so he didn't think Epiphone would make another run. I guess internet chatter does not always equate with sales.

 

I'm really glad I got mine, and encourage you to seek one out.

 

Red 333

dubstar

dubstar

Posted
Posted

The Epi Masterbilts are great, in my opinion. The one to have (if you can find it, it's now discontinued) is the DR500P, the Maple Dread...basically a Dove with a different headstock. These sound great.

 

As Red333 mentioned, the Epi Inspired By '64 Texan is brilliant too-I very nearly bought one of these but missed out as they were a ltd edition...more fool me.

 

I didn't think the '64 texan was limited...doesn't appear to be, at least in the states

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/epiphone-inspired-by-1964-texan-acoustic-electric-guitar

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Acoustic-Elec/Inspired-by-1964-Texan.aspx

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Acoustic-Elec/Inspired-by-1964-Texan/Buy-Now.aspx?mappath=/Support/Dealers/Europe/United-Kingdom

Jinder

Jinder

Posted
Posted

Hmm, very interesting...when it came out in the UK it was listed as limited edition everywhere, then vanished within 6mths. If it's back for good, I'm ALL OVER one come the summertime...Hog, slope, long scale...hell yes!

brannon67

brannon67

Posted
Posted

Well Red333, at least you tried, you were proactive in telling Epiphone we all wanted the Aj500RC. It was worth a shot. Oh well, it all comes down to the books, doesnt it? Whats on paper at the end of the day, month, year.

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