Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Epiphone Casino at Guitar Center (BAD CRAP FROM CHINA)
184 views
Skip to first unread message
guitarannie
Nov 5, 2011, 1:23:27 PM11/5/11
to
I'm looking for a thin archtop without the block.
(for the weight and the more acoustic properties).
This was a blond model at Guitar Center. The head was painted black
and the paint had ran to the side of the head and instead of cleaning
it up, they finished the guitar over the top of it, leaving the black
paint drip on the blonde side. That was a minor problem. The big
problem was the fingerboard is almost flat. but the nut and bridge had
an arch that was curved more than the neck. so the strings were higher
in the middle than at the first and sixth strings. This guitar lists
for 1100 bucks. Guitar Center price was 599.
When I pointed out the problem to the salesman said "Oh well most of
the Epiphones are crap" and put it back on the rack. He also told me
he sold a guitar to George Benson when he worked at the Snotsdale
Arizona store, Benson just picked out a standard Ibanez artcore
archtop. When he asked George why would he buy one of these when he
had his own signature model, George said he liked these better. So the
salesman was prompted to get his own Ibanez. He also said the regular
American made Gibsons were all nicely made but the custom shop ones
all had problems
On another note, I had to go to the acoustic room to test the guitar
because the idiots (customers) were all testing guitars and it sounded
like a building being demolished. I imagine that these people had
never heard what a clean note sounded like. Also they were all out of
tune and they were being played with extreme amounts of distortion.
The poor guitar center employees must go home and demand silence for
the rest of the night. They have to listen to that crap all day long.
New guitars are like new firearms. They are just kits.
(for the weight and the more acoustic properties).
This was a blond model at Guitar Center. The head was painted black
and the paint had ran to the side of the head and instead of cleaning
it up, they finished the guitar over the top of it, leaving the black
paint drip on the blonde side. That was a minor problem. The big
problem was the fingerboard is almost flat. but the nut and bridge had
an arch that was curved more than the neck. so the strings were higher
in the middle than at the first and sixth strings. This guitar lists
for 1100 bucks. Guitar Center price was 599.
When I pointed out the problem to the salesman said "Oh well most of
the Epiphones are crap" and put it back on the rack. He also told me
he sold a guitar to George Benson when he worked at the Snotsdale
Arizona store, Benson just picked out a standard Ibanez artcore
archtop. When he asked George why would he buy one of these when he
had his own signature model, George said he liked these better. So the
salesman was prompted to get his own Ibanez. He also said the regular
American made Gibsons were all nicely made but the custom shop ones
all had problems
On another note, I had to go to the acoustic room to test the guitar
because the idiots (customers) were all testing guitars and it sounded
like a building being demolished. I imagine that these people had
never heard what a clean note sounded like. Also they were all out of
tune and they were being played with extreme amounts of distortion.
The poor guitar center employees must go home and demand silence for
the rest of the night. They have to listen to that crap all day long.
New guitars are like new firearms. They are just kits.
ecj
Nov 5, 2011, 3:49:28 PM11/5/11
to
Dave T
Nov 5, 2011, 4:00:36 PM11/5/11
to
weekends around Xmas!
heatho66
Nov 5, 2011, 3:57:25 PM11/5/11
to
Joe Giglio
Nov 5, 2011, 4:29:14 PM11/5/11
to
TD
Nov 5, 2011, 4:41:04 PM11/5/11
to
On Nov 5, 1:23 pm, guitarannie <guitaran...@gmail.com> wrote:
($600 plus) until I make up my mind on what upscale model I will
eventually shell out dough for. I went on line and took a shot and
ordered the Yamaha Classical Style Silent Guitar SLG130NW. It is the
newest nylon classical travel axe with supposedly the actual classical
width fretboard. All the on line reviews sounded positive. When the
guitar arrived a few days ago, I suddenly had a premonition (don't ask
me why 'cause I don't know). Like maybe, this guitar is a turkey. So,
I didn't open the box until the next day, because I spooked myself.
When I finally opened it, my thoughts were swiftly being formed as I
looked at and felt the overall cheapness of the instrument.. I brushed
over the neck with my left hand, somewhat like a Bengal tiger rather
blase-like brushing it's paw over the carcass of a six day old Macaque
monkey and yawning. But still, I somehow managed to drum up enough
enthusiasm to screw in the detached section, tune it up, plug it in
the wall, put on headphones and proceed to play some Bach. My second
feeling after my immediate sensation that this is a total piece of
crap, was suddenly recollecting when I was a kid sending away for
something with a few dollars and 100 Kellogs Cornflakes boxtops and
this is what might arrive. I felt duped, because I know Yamaha is
based in Tokyo (I have been to one of the headquarters) and the
sticker on this thing reads "Made in Indonesia." I have nothing
against Indonesia, a country famous for rubber and coconut husks but,
jeez. Besides cheaply constructed, the high E string was too far in
from the south border of the fretboard, thus not much space allotment
between E and B. It sounded like crap too. I got it all packed up and
ready for return. Moral, I am a jerk for ordering this on line and not
trying one out beforehand.
-TD
Bg
Nov 5, 2011, 5:49:24 PM11/5/11
to
Bg
Nov 5, 2011, 5:58:44 PM11/5/11
to
>
> See if you can find a Gibs ES345 Ithink.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I messed up, the fully hollow thinline is ES330
Bg
> See if you can find a Gibs ES345 Ithink.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I messed up, the fully hollow thinline is ES330
Bg
guitarannie
Nov 5, 2011, 6:26:10 PM11/5/11
to
new in 1968.
Someone broke into my home and stole it. Shit!
terrasbeest
Nov 5, 2011, 8:04:15 PM11/5/11
to
Message has been deleted
Phil T
Nov 6, 2011, 1:53:32 AM11/6/11
to
On 11/5/2011 1:23 PM, guitarannie wrote:
> I'm looking for a thin archtop without the block.
> (for the weight and the more acoustic properties).
You might want to consider one of these :
> I'm looking for a thin archtop without the block.
> (for the weight and the more acoustic properties).
On a whim I recently bought a very slightly used Peerless Renaissance
Custom - ES330/335 style, *full hollow* with a sound post under the
bridge, barely 1.75" thick at the rims. It's quite light and
comfortable, plays nicely, built well with excellent fit and finish. It
has much more acoustic sound that a typical semi-hollow. And used, it
was the same kind of dough you were looking at for the new Epiphone.
New, they're around $900.
blackcat
Nov 6, 2011, 6:43:39 AM11/6/11
to
having
decided to reduce the spec to the Renaissance Standard ( laminate body
with
nickel/chrome fittings and less inlay work ) at pretty well the same
retail price
chich makes the original Custom version one of the best deals out
there - IF
you can find one. The Custom version is the one we organised for Matt
Otten and
featured in many of his YouTube clips.
Phil T
Nov 6, 2011, 7:44:20 AM11/6/11
to
On 11/6/2011 6:43 AM, blackcat wrote:
> On Nov 6, 6:53 am, Phil T<va...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On 11/5/2011 1:23 PM, guitarannie wrote:
>>
>>> I'm looking for a thin archtop without the block.
>>> (for the weight and the more acoustic properties).
>>
>> You might want to consider one of these :
>> On a whim I recently bought a very slightly used Peerless Renaissance
>> Custom - ES330/335 style, *full hollow* with a sound post under the
>> bridge, barely 1.75" thick at the rims. It's quite light and
>> comfortable, plays nicely, built well with excellent fit and finish. It
>> has much more acoustic sound that a typical semi-hollow. And used, it
>> was the same kind of dough you were looking at for the new Epiphone.
>> New, they're around $900.
>
> Not available new anymore to the best of my knowledge - Peerless
> having decided to reduce the spec to the Renaissance Standard ( laminate body
> with nickel/chrome fittings and less inlay work ) at pretty well the same
> retail price
Regardless, the less fancy 'Standard' model still fits my description
> On Nov 6, 6:53 am, Phil T<va...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On 11/5/2011 1:23 PM, guitarannie wrote:
>>
>>> I'm looking for a thin archtop without the block.
>>> (for the weight and the more acoustic properties).
>>
>> You might want to consider one of these :
>> On a whim I recently bought a very slightly used Peerless Renaissance
>> Custom - ES330/335 style, *full hollow* with a sound post under the
>> bridge, barely 1.75" thick at the rims. It's quite light and
>> comfortable, plays nicely, built well with excellent fit and finish. It
>> has much more acoustic sound that a typical semi-hollow. And used, it
>> was the same kind of dough you were looking at for the new Epiphone.
>> New, they're around $900.
>
> Not available new anymore to the best of my knowledge - Peerless
> having decided to reduce the spec to the Renaissance Standard ( laminate body
> with nickel/chrome fittings and less inlay work ) at pretty well the same
> retail price
and should still meet her requirement for a light, full hollow thin-line
guitar. I believe the Standard is really the same guitar I have but
without all the cosmetic upgrades.
My Custom is blond/natural with gold hardware and the fancy inlay. I
assume it's all laminate. Serial # is PE09xxx.., which I believe is
2009 and is past the date of the solid ones(non-laminate) from the Matts
Otten era. Guitars 'n Jazz still have a couple on eBay, and Doc Dosco a
has sunburst one also. Those are all listed as laminate.
I bought this guitar as a test-drive into the 330/335 style guitar world
without having to spend the full shot on a real 330 or 335. I wasn't
sure if I would be physically comfortable with this style/size guitar
body. Turns out that I am. Like Guitarannie, I wanted something light,
thin and full hollow and this guitar fit the bill. I have a
Peerless-made Epi Zephyr Regent (1998 vintage) so I was already familiar
with Peerless' quality which is pretty damn good in my opinion,
especially in this price range. I paid less for this guitar (supposedly
used) than if I'd bought a new Epi Sheraton and case at typical street
prices. So trying the Peerless was an easy decision.
blackcat
Nov 6, 2011, 8:10:41 AM11/6/11
to
laminate
and whilst still a good buy is most definiely not the Custom! All
Custom models
were pressed solid maple throughout with a centre post.
Phil T
Nov 6, 2011, 8:50:57 AM11/6/11
to
laminate. Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.
bsuth...@cox.net
Nov 6, 2011, 3:27:17 PM11/6/11
to
I'm sorry to hear about your bad guitar experiences. I think that
GuitarCenter is owned by Toys'R'Us so it's basically a toy store for
kids and if cats like you and GB are going there then we are all at
their mercy it seems like to some extent if we want to actually play
an instrument before we buy it. The online guitar business has sort of
destroyed the experience of falling in love with an axe in the Sam Ash
and saving money to buy it. I did that once for a 345 in NYC in 1969.
Rick Stone
Nov 6, 2011, 4:10:33 PM11/6/11
to
little read as a diversion from our sometimes boring lives . . . ;-) LOL!
--
Musically Yours,
Rick Stone
Website: http://www.rickstone.com
Recordings: http://www.cdbaby.com/all/jazzand
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/jazzand
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rickstonemusic
EPK: http://www.sonicbids.com/rickstone
tom walls
Nov 6, 2011, 5:32:08 PM11/6/11
to
cackle.
guitarannie
Nov 6, 2011, 7:04:48 PM11/6/11
to
Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
My current axe is a tobacco 14" slim Single cutaway Ibanez artcore
with black bindings, a matte finish and with Abalone inserts and
Hematite hardware. Fender Jaguar MIJ for a backup
It plays as good as a guitar can get so I'm just extremely fussy since
I really love this axe.
It was a last minute purchase when I found out it had been sitting in
the Arizona dry for about 8 years before I bought it (Not R&R looking
axe.) this plywood beaut just need the edges of the frets smoothed due
to the shrinkage.
So I'm committed to plywood guitars and These are all good examples
for me except the carved top ones.
I guess when I want a little more acoustic sound I'll play my graphite
Cargo.
My current axe is a tobacco 14" slim Single cutaway Ibanez artcore
with black bindings, a matte finish and with Abalone inserts and
Hematite hardware. Fender Jaguar MIJ for a backup
It plays as good as a guitar can get so I'm just extremely fussy since
I really love this axe.
It was a last minute purchase when I found out it had been sitting in
the Arizona dry for about 8 years before I bought it (Not R&R looking
axe.) this plywood beaut just need the edges of the frets smoothed due
to the shrinkage.
So I'm committed to plywood guitars and These are all good examples
for me except the carved top ones.
I guess when I want a little more acoustic sound I'll play my graphite
Cargo.
thomas
Nov 6, 2011, 7:15:22 PM11/6/11
to
On Nov 6, 7:04 pm, guitarannie <guitaran...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> My current axe is a tobacco 14" slim Single cutaway Ibanez artcore
> with black bindings, a matte finish and with Abalone inserts and
> Hematite hardware.
So why do you want another thinline?
>> My current axe is a tobacco 14" slim Single cutaway Ibanez artcore
> with black bindings, a matte finish and with Abalone inserts and
> Hematite hardware.
thomas
Nov 6, 2011, 7:20:50 PM11/6/11
to
On Nov 6, 7:04 pm, guitarannie <guitaran...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
> My current axe is a tobacco 14" slim Single cutaway Ibanez artcore
> with black bindings, a matte finish and with Abalone inserts and
> Hematite hardware.
Where did you get the hematite stuff?
> My current axe is a tobacco 14" slim Single cutaway Ibanez artcore
> with black bindings, a matte finish and with Abalone inserts and
> Hematite hardware.
guitarannie
Nov 7, 2011, 8:07:40 AM11/7/11
to
I'm always looking for lighter guitars. I got an email from Ibanez
with the m93 in the catalog which they claim is lighter but they won't
give the weight. Then I get a print catalog with the new Epiphone 339
in it. Aah, marketing.
thomas
Nov 7, 2011, 11:16:19 AM11/7/11
to
David J. Littleboy
Nov 7, 2011, 1:23:44 PM11/7/11
to
L-4C occupy the office; memory has it that it's not noticeably heavy. But
it's smaller than an ES-175 (15.5" x 2.75" vs. 16" x 3"). A new ES-165 I
tried in a store was way heavier. The PM-100 I had is long gone, but if
memory serves it was noticeably lighter than that ES-165.
The AF105FNT is beautifully made. The Chinese can be persuaded to do good
work.
If you really want a light archtop, 1950s and 1960s L-4Cs are amazingly
light (lighter than a bodyless Steinberger, Really!). I'd guess the ES-175s
from that period would also be. But these aren't for people with feedback
phobias.
(These are all full-depth archtops, so a bit off topic for this thread. More
fore comparison than as real suggestions.)
Ah, here are the numbers.
The three guitars at hand weigh 2.3, 2.5, and 2.6 kg, respectively.
(That's 5.1, 5.5, and 5.7 pounds: L-4C, Steinberger Spirit, and Holst 16"
carved top. I'm pretty sure the non-el-cheapo Steinbergers are heavier than
any of the above.)
--
David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
guitarannie
Nov 8, 2011, 9:55:53 AM11/8/11
to
test
guitarannie
Nov 8, 2011, 10:03:46 AM11/8/11
to
hematite..
Hard to see in the photos.
http://img.schoolmusic.co.kr/shop/ibanez/ags83b/ags83b-1.jpg
I took the pickguard off which I always do. In this case the pickguard
was made of wood which had warped a bit anyway
guitarannie
Nov 8, 2011, 10:08:07 AM11/8/11
to
I think I'll get a Ruger SP-101 instead
0 new messages