Epi Emperor Swingster Royale

[oklatex]

Well, with a great deal of expectation, I opened up the box, holding my brand new Emperor Swingster Royale. Black with gold dust!! A really unique look. It felt great in my hands and had a very nice acoustic sound to it. So far, so good. Then, I headed for my tube amp and plugged her in............dead silence. Fooled with the switches a little and got some sound from the middle position. Tried the single pickup positions and got nothing. Then, I put in back in the middle position and tried the push/pull pots.......got nothing but static!! So, I switched cables, three times with only intermittent sounds. I tried three other amps I have and got the same results.

So, my "dusty beauty" is enroute back to whence it came from. Fortunately, American Musical Supply is swapping it out and a new one will be on it's way!! Still, very frustrating. I spent hours swapping it around, checking for loose wires, or switches; but, somehow, it worked long enough to get through a quick inspection and get shipped out. Hope this isn't a sign of what's to come from Epi.....

Anyway, I'll be getting my swap out in a few days and I hope all goes well with it. It truly is a nice guitar and I was looking forward to spending the next few days learning more about her.

Oh, I do need one thing, if anyone happens to read this......I need a case that fits her. There are a number of cases out there that might fit; but, with the bixby included, I am worried that the top of the case might put pressure on the guitar. I checked with, AMS, Sam Ash, Sweetwater and Musicians Friend, online and not one of them could promise that the cases they have would fit. There doesn't seem to be one available for this guitar, at least, not yet. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, since this is my first post, I might as well get it all in. I've got a beautiful 1999 Epi Dot that is perfect, in almost every way; but, the tuners are weak and I need an exact replacement, making sure the holes match, etc... Any after market tuners out there that might do a really good job?? Thanks,

I appreciate the opportunity to relate my experience and possibly get some help.

[CasinoGambler]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Yes it's all very frustrating and you do wonder what gets checked before shipping and with quality control along the way.However to put this into perspective it can happen with just about any guitar. It's the 'Sod's Law', 'Luck of the Draw' scenario.

 

We're not all fortunate enough to have music stores within easy reach but buying blind on the Internet does come with it's perils and risks.

 

My adage is Try Before You Buy and in several instances I've been so grateful I have. When I decided to buy an Epi IBJL Casino I had to make a 200 mile round journey( UK roads)

but in doing so was able to try it out, compare to the standard model and the Natural Revolution model. In doing that I knew exactly what I was buying and knew that my

chosen guitar felt right,sounded good and worked as it should.

 

Anyway enough about that....good luck and hope the replacement is a good one

 

Nick

[oklatex]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Yes it's all very frustrating and you do wonder what gets checked before shipping and with quality control along the way.However to put this into perspective it can happen with just about any guitar. It's the 'Sod's Law', 'Luck of the Draw' scenario.

 

We're not all fortunate enough to have music stores within easy reach but buying blind on the Internet does come with it's perils and risks.

 

My adage is Try Before You Buy and in several instances I've been so grateful I have. When I decided to buy an Epi IBJL Casino I had to make a 200 mile round journey( UK roads)

but in doing so was able to try it out, compare to the standard model and the Natural Revolution model. In doing that I knew exactly what I was buying and knew that my

chosen guitar felt right,sounded good and worked as it should.

 

Anyway enough about that....good luck and hope the replacement is a good one

 

Nick

[oklatex]

Yes, as you say, it can be frustrating; and, in my case, it was drive 3 hours, one way, to see one or order it online. Looking back, the six hours drive might have been worth it. But, I've got faith and hope that all will work out! Thanks for the info......now, if I could just find that case...........

[kidblast]

Oh, I do need one thing, if anyone happens to read this......I need a case that fits her. There are a number of cases out there that might fit; but, with the bixby included, I am worried that the top of the case might put pressure on the guitar. I checked with, AMS, Sam Ash, Sweetwater and Musicians Friend, online and not one of them could promise that the cases they have would fit. There doesn't seem to be one available for this guitar, at least, not yet. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi there,

 

What a bummer man. I have a white one. I did not have the issues you have (the one Sweetwater sent me works great, and sounds awesome). I wonder if it was just a crappy switch.

 

You'll be stoked when the replacement arrives, the pickups sound cool. The only thing I would have changed is to reverse the push / pull config. Making the "in" positions in phase, and pull for out of phase, but it's not a show stopper, they sound really nice, and they handle volume well without feeding back.

 

 

For the case, you need the Emperor Hardshell case

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/epiphone-emperor-hardshell-guitar-case

 

and you're going to have to remove the Chet Wire arm for it to fit in the case, there are two set screws on the bottom of the arm brace. Epi supplies an allen wrench for this as well as the truss rod adjustment wrench.

 

The bigsby works fantastic with the roller saddles too.

 

Musicians Friend has the case in stock (Sweetwater doesn't). and note the picture on the link is not the case you will get, it's the newer one with the arched top and the glossy tolex covering. (nice case)

 

 

 

I'm quite please with mine, hope you are too. Good luck... let us know what's cooking when you get the swap out.

 

/KB (Ray)