GSWJ - Super Rare! Epiphone Excellente Review
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
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Love to all.
I bought one about six months ago, and it holds its own against my Gibson Dove, Martin D35, and Guild D55. Unbelievable guitar
i have the same opinion with my j 200. I mean i still love j 200, its a legend but excellente kiils for the money it costs!
The US Epiphones are legit!
I saw this video and got me the guitar 9 months ago. Mine buzzes on the 6th string between frets 6 to 12. I’m playing with the truss rod now. Other than that, it sounds gorgeous to me with the pick. For fingerpicking I like it less good than my Gibson J15.
I bought this last year. Best guitar theyve made in years.
I own it love it
I've watched your video many, many times and, yes , today I've ordered an Epiphone Excellente. Will arrive in early March. Cowabunga!!! Love your enthusiasm for geetahs, Cadillacs and hill billy music. Cheers.
Have you received this guitar? Thoughts?
It is a good time for guitarists. The reality is that all of these companies are having to make great guitars at a lower price point to compete with each other. If you can get past your guitar being made overseas, you will be rewarded because there are many great instruments being made overseas now and the quality is stunning. For those who can't get past that, they will simply pay more for the same or even less quality.
Worth noting that Epiphone have previously reissued this guitar in the 1990s and that guitar was made in Korea rather than Indonesia. The Korean guitar had a more glossy finish, had Rosewood back and side rather than Ovenkall and had a small excellente text written on top of the mother of pearl slab on the headstock.
I think Epiphone is the most exciting guitar manufacturer out there right now. They are doing some really cool stuff. I love the Masterbilt line... tremendous value.
My Excellente arrived yesterday all the way from the north of England down to the Wiltshire countryside. I believe it was the only one for sale in the UK. Now l would normaly never buy any guitar and especially an acoustic without playing it (20% rule) but after seeing your review and the one on RandysRythm youtube channel (great channel and Randys a lovely sweet Texan) and various others who were shouting BUY ONE! I pulled the trigger.
My God, what a looker, it's really pimped up eh but in a good way? The materials, great woods, ebony and bone, great tuners but.......the tone.
Just Wow! It's so sweet, it's beautifully balanced through the sonic range. I've found that unlike my recently purchased Epi IBG 1942 Banner VOS J45 which is a bit more rock 'n roll and can handle being played hard if you need that sound, the Excellente responds better to a more considered gentle approach. I'm so glad l found your channel John, love your honest no nonsense approach, coupled with your obvious knowledge and enthusiasm for all things guitar. Love your playing too. I'm an ex London UK pro, l worked in West End musicals, tours and session work. That is until a rear end car accident damaged my hands. I could still play but not to the standard required. Then in 2020 l was left paralysed from the neck down after COVID triggered Guillian Barre Syndrome in me. I was in hospital for 6 months, but I walked out using a stick. My hands only started working again in 2023, it was like starting to play from day one again and incredibly frustrating but now l'm good enough to play in local pubs which is such a joy for me. Thanks again John for switching me on to the Excellente. Can't t wait to see how she's gonna open out after being played for a few months. Cheers!
NB My pickguard is fine and shows no sign of lifting.
Hey J.P. What would you suggest for buying between EXCELLENTE and FRONTIER as you have played and reviewed both of them. I have watched many review videos of both of them and sound wise i dont hear a great difference between them. EXCELLENTE wins over FRONTIER in terms of wood used but the sound is not much different with just a little more sustain. But is it worth paying $400 more for EXCELLENTE ??
Bought an Epiphone Inspired By Gibson J200 Sunburst, which J.P featured here, it was crap! Sounded like it was underwater, sound was compressed. Hard to take what he says seriously
i was waiting long for you to review it. i love my excellente too. i think that generally sounds better than my j 200 gibson. I mean more balanced though its price!
Thanks for the tip, JP. Just ordered one and they knocked another 15% off with a special offer they were having thru email...Awesome Deal!! Unfortunately they won't be coming in till Feb
I have a Frontier FT-110 ordered....this has been delayed significantly.....and they tell me late Feb now. I expect it to be delayed again, lol. Don't be surprised if it takes a while! I hope your guitar is a great one!
@@stevebernard221 Thanks for the heads up!
the finish on these is likely some kind of two part acrylic or poly with a flattener and if these are made by cort or someone using the same equipment cort has, there's a robotic sprayer probably in an electrostatic room that can lay the finish on like atom-thin feathers dropping on a bed.
Polyurethanes get a bad rep because people think of home center finishes - industrial poly finishes are far harder and more like lacquer, just with a chemical cure and cross linking. the softer stuff sold in a minwax can that's only one part is more like an oil finish that has some crosslinking.
This guitar deserves to be built in Montana in the same factory as flagship Gibsons. This guitar cost more money than the most expensive Gibson at the time (the J200/SJ200).
I hate to tell you this but I got mine for $799 brand new 😮😊- just before they started raising the price 🤙
Lucky and... Excellente choice!!!! 🙂
I recently bought a Tele that I’m restoring. Can’t buy another guitar. But I WANT THAT!!! Now I’m hurting 😫
I just bought one this weekend ……and I’m pretty Damn thrilled…..picked it over the Yamaha ll16 and the Martin D12 and I’ve owned both those guitars.When you buy this piece it will never leave your collection.
When you first played this guitar, it almost brought tears to my eyes 😅 What a beautiful work of art. Reminds me of when I play my vintage FG-300 (which is missing a pickguard of course!)
There about $1900 now at Long and Mcquade. I picked it up just browsing and it was unlike anything I’ve ever touched before. It’s such a beautiful guitar.
I love your channel, I bought this guitar here in Italy after watching this video and it is spectacular. Thank you very much for this video and greetings from Milan ! 😄
After watching your glowing review, I went right out, looking for one on my birthday (July 19). I found one at the best shop in Houston (Fullers), and boy did you nail this one! When I picked it up and strummed a few chords, I was amazed by the fullness and beauty of the tone--low, mid, and high. It was equally impressive finger picking, so I bought it right away. The first few weeks, I could hardly put it down. It sounds damn near as good overall as my treasured Martin HD-28 and Martin OMC-18 Laurence Juber, and in some ways it sounds better than both of them. It blows away my fairly expensive Maton Tommy Emmanuel, Zager 900ce, Taylor 326ce, and Martin OM Cherry. Four months down the line, I still play it just as much as my Martins that cost twice as much. Thanks so much for putting me onto this gem, J.P. This guitar's sound in the video only begins to hint at its high quality. For you skeptics, I challenge you to play one (if you can find one) and remain unimpressed.
Following this video, I did my own research, and was determined to get one. Blow me! The day I decided to place an order, they went up in price by £100. Undeterred, I placed my order (now 8 weeks ago) at just over £800. The price has now rocketed and is currently standing at £1135!!! I guess people are beginning to realise just how good one of these is?!! Really looking forward to getting mine.............................hate being patient ;-) P.S.--You just can't get one second-hand................nobody, but nobody is selling theirs!!!!!!
Antiques road show energy from you my dude. The passion the excitement the attention to detail. Love everything about this review. Great job
Specifications
Body
Body Shape: Excellente
Body Material: Solid Ovangkol
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back: Solid Ovangkol
Side: Solid Ovangkol
Binding: Ivory and Black 6-ply (top) and 4-ply (back)
Finish: Aged Gloss
Neck
Material: Maple with 5 piece Walnut and Maple center stripe
Profile: C Profile
Scale Length: 25.31" / 643mm
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Fingerboard Radius: 12.01"
Number Of Frets: 20
Frets: Medium Jumbo
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.69" / 43mm
Inlays: Excellente Clouds, 15th fret Block
Joint: Tapered Dovetail
Hardware
Finish: Gold
Tuner Plating: Gold
Bridge: Ebony; Excellente shape with pearl dot inlays
Saddle Material: Bone
Tuning Machines: Gold Vintage "Waffleback" tuners with metal buttons
Pickguard: Historic Excellente
TrussRod: Adjustable
Bridge Pins: Ivory with black center dot
Strap Buttons: 2 - bottom and side of heel
Electronics
Under Saddle Pickup: Fishman Sonicore
Controls: Fishman Sonitone soundhole mounted Volume and Tone
Output Jack: 1/4" Endpin Jack
Preamp: Fishman Sonitone
Model: # EMEXNAGH
Checks all the boxes. Except the pickup.
I bought a used one with a TKL case at a great price. l last had a Gibson Heritage Deluxe with gold keys and real ivory. This guitar looks and sounds better! Thanks J.P. for your review. Your 73 year old Arkansas fan, Daniel
I've played it against my Guild d55 and I can say it's at least as good if not a tad better. Greetings from Germany
My theory as to why Gibson is allowing Epiphone to keep putting out these awesome guitars comes down to the near death experience where Gibson, through cork sniffing arrogance, kept the mindset where they believed they could keep putting out sub par instruments at premium prices due to the label being "Gibson" and to compound the problem, Gibson failed to recognise the industry had drastically changed and we were in the golden age of quality guitars at budget prices!
They almost killed the brand!
So, here's my thinking. When Gibson builds a guitar a certain percent goes to their debtors. So, they desperately need to find ways to make significant money which is not subject to the legal conditions, which serves two purposes.
A) They start clawing and scratching their way back to the lifestyle they became accustomed to.
B) They can pay off their debt from Gibson faster and get complete control of their company back.
This is just my opinion, otherwise it makes little sense.
Jack ~'()'~
J.P. zZounds lists the Nut as Bone and the Saddle as Bone. Solid wood all around. I think I just bought my birthday gift to me. USD $1100(1,099). On back order.
I just ordered mine through Sweetwater, same deal on back order but I don't care.
"Epiphone has always made good instruments" -Paul McCartney
He and John and George all played epiphone casinos. I saw an image of him playing an epiphone acoustic a couple years ago
Paul wrote and recorded "Yesterday" on an Epiphone Texan. John also played and recorded with his own Epiphone EJ 160 e, on "If I fell".
So they not only loved the Casinos but also the acoustic range.
Hey J.P. Just got my Excellente a couple of days ago based on your recommendation. The first one was a dud. Marks on the bridge from pliers, off colored fretboard stains and just an all over bad job on the finish. But the new one I got the other day. Jesus! A dream guitar. Im not joking. I've got a fairly high end Furch as my main guitar, but this new Excellente just resonates with my soul, when I play it. It's so immediate and dare I say "communicative" when I strum it. This guitar deeply resonates with me. Thank you.
Nice.🌞🌞🌞
Got one with 2 discoloured inlays. Debating returning it but might just have a little rub of them. Too much hassle to send back to Germany.
Great video my friend. What's the overall length and width? Thank you and keep up the great videos.
The neck is indeed maple and......WALNUT!! Recently l bought the IBG Hummingbird which is MAGNIFICENT! I now have Sweetwater sending me (after waiting only 3 weeks from backorder) a brand new $1099.00 Epi Excellente! I was sold on your video.. a gent in the neighborhood had one for sale, he used a funky thing called a "Tone King" on it.. l feel it deadend the tone, reduced the projection and lost that beautiful chime... I don't recommend a "Tone King"! I have a couple questions.. 1. Why did they not run the multi layer binding around the face of the headstock? I guess they did not do it on the original 139?¿? Kinda silly but l noticed and found that odd. And 2. Why would any company put a great big, thick, heavy, gummy, soft pickgaurd on the sound board of the guitar? It absolutely has to kill some resonance, l mean people put arm rest to get their arm off the deck..yet my Hummingbird and this Excellente have them.. l would think a super thin ultra hard gaurd would enhance the tone considerably. Maybe lm wrong but it just makes logical sense that that chunk of rubber would effect it. I do not like the "art-work" and l use that term loosely on either guitar..l like the look of the J45 but it does not hold a candle to the Bird.. love your vid! It made Epiphone lil over a K of my coin! Thank you! I'm psyched it's coming!!
Well..it arrived..honestly the sound like the guitar itself is BIG! FULL RANGE!! I did notice one thing that has no effect on sound, tone or playability, that is the tuners are not centered symmetricallythe "E" tuners in particular are almost an 1/8" inch over .. other that that l still think the pickgaurd artwork looks like it was drawn by a special Ed 4th grader..it's hideous.. same with the Hummingbird.. l really am no fan of this Excellente esthetically..it's really a butt ugly guitar in my book but that's okay because l didn't buy them based on looks ..l bought them for sound, tone and playability which is TOP NOTCH!!! I AM PSYCHED TO TO HAVE THESE FUGLY GUITARS!!! I LOVE THEM!!! I thought maybe the big Pearl inlays in the headstock might have been 3 piece in the original 139 but it indeed WAS originally a 1 piece inlay.. no big shakes there.. the mother of pearl is gorgeous..now my only real gripe is those tuners you rave so much about...they are 14:1 ratio!!! That sucks! I'd prefer a 18:1 or 21:1 tuner myself but 14:1 are too aggressive!! What a sonic work of art!!! It sounds as you say!! No less!!
Well.. l pulled off the pick gaurds off both guitars.. huge difference! However.. l decided to give Mr. Bruce Wei a shot at custom building a rosewood inlayed pickgaurd.. lm having him send a plain rosewood with the inlayed to cover my butt if l don't like the inlayed on the guitar, l had him add some pine needles to the branchs, he sends me updated pictures as he has been at work on it now for 3 weeks.. he is very close to finishing and it looks amazing! It's not cheap.. he gave me a great price being he has never made an Excellente gaurd and the gaurd is unusually large.. he quoted me before he realized how big it was.. but l would guess he will do them for $150 $175 or there about in the future.. Google Bruce Wei pick gaurds and lm sure he will have pictures of mine to show you..yea $210 for 2 pickgaurds might sound like a lot but when you consider what you DIDNT spend on the guitar.. it looks like it SHOULD have looked from Epiphone to me..the mother of pearl, aboloney and green stone he is using is beautiful! When l apply it to the sound board l will use double sided 3M adhesive felt 3/4" dots to fasten it, this will not hinder the tone and should be floating just off the deck. If l like it Mr Wei may be building a gaurd for the hummingbird next!!
Great review . . . you know how to sell a guitar . . . certainly seems to have volume and clarity. Cheers.
Love your videos . . . Now, what's your choice between the Epiphone Excellente or the Yamaha LL16? I'm looking to get a better acoustic (nothing wrong with my Tele), but I'd appreciate your expert opinion . . . Thanks.
Finally, someone who knows how to play these guitars. Most other reviews show just the usual coffee shop troubador style strumming to accompany vocals. You are able to show what a guitar is capable of and how it should sound
I've got a 1964 Epiphone Troubador built in Kalamazoo mich. Really great guitar.kind of beat up by somebody,but I fixed it up and I love it
Of the four epis you reviewed, which is your favorite?
You're so excited about this guitar I'm thinking of buying one.
Im blessed to own the original epiphone excellente My grandfather who was the original owner. Have the case and all with a pack of old strings in case with strap. Thinks its a 63 or 64. really good shape just a couple cracks with some minor checking, man the rosewood looks beautiful all around. Theres an old video on my channel of me showing it and another of me playing it be warned im not that good like this guy and shes not holding tune. I need to make some new videos.
🔸🔶 I Want it ❗️❗️❗️🔶🔸
Have you ever hear of the frontier model they make.
Same specs as a Gibson dove I believe, except a nice ice tea or natural finish with a ropes and cactus pickguard
I bought this after this great review and man you are right, i played a lot of american brand name and european guitars, but this really blown me away, i have this feeling that the journey to find the perfect singer/songwriter guitar has an end now. Thank you very much!
The one I bought JP was terrible.
The finish was like a thick poured plastic and the guitar was completely unplayable when it arrived.
The bridge was lifting in the back and the bottom of the body of the guitar was cracked. It was pretty though I must admit.
Every fret on every string buzzed horribly. Didn’t look like any basic factory spec setup of any kind was done on the guitar going out the factory floor.
I was able to send it back and get my money but from what I saw I don’t think I would ever buy another one.
I am a proud owner of an Epiphone Swingster and an Epiphone Masterbilt D500MCE sunburst. Both are utterly magnificent and rival my deceased Martin D15 in tone and playability. I am a diehard Epiphone fan, an Epiphany indeed! Love them!
UPDATE SEPT 2024: After 15 months of having it, sound got much better and mainly NO PICKGUARD problem at all! 🙂
I have purchased several guitars you have recommended and found your reviews to be spot on (Yamaha LJ56, Alvarez Yairi HD, and even an Epiphone J-200, all fantastic instruments). The exception was the Epiphone Excellente. I was shocked at the lack of quality and poor assembly. It was impossible to tune due to the Fretboard being almost a half an inch above the Bridge! Then, I found the Frets to vary in height so bad, that even after raising the Saddle, it was impossible to play without fret buzz. Fortunately, my on-line store refunded it 100%. These were supposed to be Masterbuilt by Epiphone, but I don’t see how.
It would be cool to see you do an in depth review of the more affordable Yamaha FS 830 and FG 830 👍✌
I'm sure it sounds great and is probably a big bang for your buck. I recently went off the rails and bought a barely used (like new) Gibson Montana Limited Edition 1960's J45 for $2,445 U.S. I have no regrets. I've played for 35 years and owned most of the mid range or mid level guitars through the years. My goal now at 52 years old is to own as many "Big Name" guitars that I could not afford to own while my wife and I were raising our 4 children who are all now grown. I think as a guitar player, at some point in your life you really need to start rewarding yourself with guitars you have earned for playing so long. And the J45 I bought really stands out, so balanced, has some really deep thump that is equal to my old 1974 Martin D35 and 1990 yairi Alavarez DY90. As you get older, if you can afford it, buy the Gibsons, Martins, Furch's, Huss&Dalton's, Lowden's, Collins, Boucher's and the list goes on. As a guitar player you most likely wont be disappointed. But hey, if you are, they hold their resale value pretty well and you can always sell it and buy this Epiphone Excellente.
Getting excited mine is to be shipped on the 30 th
Friend of mine had an original vintage excellente, he looked for one for years finally found one, and it sounded terrible, had a horrible skinny neck and the whole thing was heavy as hell,
But it looked absolutely amazing.
Your reissue sounds great.
The vintage ones had this adjustable bridge system that was really a great idea but not a very well thought out design. They put them on a few high end Gibsons as well and the best thing for the was to modify it, mainly because replacing it isn't a reasonable thing to do. They were basically tone killers. They are very heavy and the headstock, while it is beautiful is also so big it is like have a billboard at the end of the neck. It definitely helped with sustain coupled with the weight of best tuners GIbson or Epi made. You are right the neck is skinny and it makes it feel weird when you pick it up to play the first time especially if you have been on a standard width necknor a 12 string. The weight and size of the headstock coupled with such a skinny neck makes me feel like it will snap in two at any moment with slightest bump. I have a 65 Excellente and a 65 Gibson SJN country western. Odd size necks and that tone killing adjustable bridge must have been all the rage at the time because the SJN has a narrow yet different width neck and that bridge. I have modified the bridge in both for tone and because it is necessary if you want to install most modern pickup systems. I wonder of the reissue has the same neck profile as the original.
That's funny- I had the same thoughts as you in 2020 about this guitar. I called L & McQ in Victoria BC and they had one. I talked with the manager and I told him I was a big Beatles fan and also a fan of a Gibson Hummingbird and I thought that this guitar could give me what I wanted. He said it would be perfect for that and more. He said he'd ship it and would guarantee I would fall in love with it, because he set it up himself and said it was worth the $1100. So L&McQ shipped it to my local branch and I haven't looked back.
2 years later, the tone has actually gotten better...deeper a little bit. And the top has darkened slightly. Before with mine you couldn't see the seam.
My pickguard is just fine. Th4 only thing I noticed was that the "clouds" inlaid looked dull so 8 used a mild cleaner and a microfiber cloth to polish it. Wow...the thing now pops and the clouds are multi-toned.
Enjoy! And...nice 1st name too 😁
😢JP, after watching this whole video, it made me crave for this..now i have to jeeo looking for this then..it's your fault now..good review from a fellow Canadian eh..cheers and take care
JP - I think that they put thicker pick guards on them so they don’t kill the top line Gibson sales - ( think about it) You could take it off - I bought the J- 45 IBG
and the. IBG Hummingbird- ( now maybe this one in the near future- if the Guitar is not stamped. USA - it may have a China sticker on it )
JP - I think that they put thicker pick guards on them so they don’t kill the top line Gibson sales - ( think about it) You could take it off - I bought the J- 45 IBG
and the. IBG Hummingbird- ( now maybe this one in the near future- if the Guitar is not stamped. USA - it may have a China sticker on it )
Yes! Why to hell put they these damned ugly and pickguards on this wonderful guitars. If somebody knows a way to remove them softly, please tell it me.
Thanks for your verry good videos. I love your earthy kind and your love to guitars.
JP is this the American made Excellente? You are one incredible, out of this world guitar player.......and a great human being!!!!!
A special note for you all.... I bought the LAST piece was existed in Europe, and there is only one in USA-Canada area....
And as I saw at official Epiphone site, there is not even one piece of Excellente....OUT OF STOCK
Question: Will they stop the line production of it? I think yes.... and the reason is that the mother Gibson Company is humiliated by making products at that price, MUCH BETTER than Cibson ones at 1/4 of price....it's just crazy!!!! Or.....
They will at least double the prices of Masterbilt's Epiphones.... (I hope NOT)...
I work in a guitar store and I’ve heard and played MANY acoustics, and I must say when this guitar came into the store I was absolutely mind blown. I’ve played Martin D28’s, Gibson hummingbirds and J200’s. And this guitar hands down sits right up there with them in terms of balance, tone and clarity. It is a heavier guitar than its competitors, but overall being about half the price of those I would say it’s well worth the money… I’m getting one.
Sounds pretty balanced but would have to take pickguard off ,bet it would really sound good then
the biggest instrument makers in my coudry spend 20 saddles try to make the suggested action for acoustic 080'-050' and fail.my family is 2nt Generation Musicians i don't know if you have eny profits from Sweetwater they are many Sweetwater wordwide.problem is not from where you buy im 100% sure epi repeat the construction mistake from 1963-1970.remarkable accessories A solid Sitka spruce top e.t.c but unplayable with 12-53 Strings looks huge same time in other as martin takamini looks fine.strange...
Mine was manufactured in 2022 and spent 7 days on a tonerite machine. I can say with all honesty it exceeds the old Gibson J200s of the 50s and 60s. I have always loved what I call the Gibson thud of their older guitars. At 62 years old it is the last guitar I want or need.
The entire Inspired by Gibson line made in Indonesia is just so good... As I think I commented on another one of your post, I ended up with the J-45 from these series on a trade, figuring I'd just trade it for something else... But I'm playing the Epiphone J-45 daily... I go through the same ritual, where I'll spend 5-10 minutes with my Gibson J-45 (2001) and the guitar is in excellent shape, recent setup and all and I just like the way the Epiphone sounds... It's funny to me Taylor guitars sells their K24CE, which I think is the top model clocking in around $6000. Listen to sound clips of Taylor's best compared to this Indonesian built Epiphone Excellente. No it's not just the microphones...
After watching this and other rave reviews on youtube I got one and....my gosh, serious disappointment! The guitar weights 2.75 kg (i measured it), it's not resonant at all and has a feeble sound, about 60% of the volume I get from my Guild Bob Marley. It's the perfect attempt to reissue a Gibson from the 70s with double X bracing.
How was the action on yours when you got it? Mine is very high at the nut and a lot higher than I'd like at the 12th fret, too. It's an easy fix, but for a $1300 Epi, I had hoped it would be better out of the box. When I restrung it, I noticed the saddle is a bit wobbly (doesn't sit tight enough in the bridge), so I'll probably replace that with bone, file the nut slots down a little bit and carry on. It's still a fantastic guitar and is definitely a keeper. I just need to get the setup dialed in to make it more playable to my taste.
I just bought one....there now 1800 plus tax. I cant wait to hold it.
They all have slim tapered necks and what 1 5/8 nut..
Zzzzzzz. My Hummingbird had a V neck same with my Epiphone J200.
I'd take that pickguard off.
It's up to 1900 at Long and McQuade. Beauty guitar. That's quite the jump in under a year.
Ya and not even a gig bag that's a lot of money when you could be into a used Gibson or other USA brands for less or equivalent value. A Yamaha made in japan is only 2000.
I ordered one won't get it till April of 24.. through guitar center.. you can get a 48-month payment plan and it only cost about $33 month..same as cash. Thats how people on social security buy guitars🤣🤣
Dear J.P. and everyone, Excellente vs. RK328? Which one for a workhorse, recordings and gigs. Thanks!
is the master built a notch again better than regular Epiphones ? i’m going to look at one this week. have. a Taylor 614 now which of course i like a lot. but can’t afford another one right now
Dang it! your gonna make me buy this thing! I sure do like it.
John, have you ever done any reviews of any Seagulls?
The great thing is these are so affordable you can buy the entire Inspired by Gibson series of acoustics for about the cost of a D28 or Gibson J-200... Keep a tight hold on the wallet, I suspect a L-00 or LG2 model coming to this series in 2022. If they do , I'll be buying bot
Why don’t you go ahead and take that loose thick huge pick guard off and give us another review how this thing sounds . I’ ll take mind off if you take yours off / at least that what I told the gal behind the barn some years ago. Maybe Gibson will give you a holler if you do that. Thanks for all your work
A
You struck a nerve with me, and a chord, because I love Epiphone guitars - most of mine are. My one "vintage" Epiphone is a 1961 Zephyr, similar to John Lee Hooker's "Blondie". When Gibson bought Epiphone, it included everything in the factory: tooling, wood, parts, partially made guitars, necks, etc. Apparently there were a huge amount of necks already made. The Epiphone neck design was two pieces of mahogany with a thin piece of maple between them, which creates a more stable neck than a one-piece. They have a distinct "V" shape, but not too hard - not too soft, not too big- not too small. I find it very comfortable, and other models of Epiphone guitars AFTER Gibson bought them also used a similar three-piece, medium sized "V" neck. Seth Lover, who worked for Gibson, made the mini-humbucker design, so really that pickup isn't an Epiphone creation, even though it was used exclusively on Epiphone-Gibson guitars in the early 1960's, and they are great pickups. In the later 1960's, Gibson used the mini-humbucking pickups on Les Paul Deluxe models, but those were sometimes not good sounding pickups, which gave them a bad name. Not all Gibson P-90 pickups sound good either, some modern versions overwound, and lacking the clarity of older so-called "vintage" versions. Getting back to whatever I was discussing...sorry I'm getting old...oh yeah - Epiphone guitars. I used to have two old Epiphone amps that were wonderful, but I digress... My Zephyr is an awesome guitar, huge body like an Emperor, but thin-line, which makes it easier to play, and it sounds better imho. Hollow-body thin-lines are my favorite sound. Newer Epiphone guitars include a 2014 Casino Coupe in natural. Original bridge was replaced with a Gotoh before I bought it, the original a rattle-trap. I'm going to replace the tailpiece, wiring-pots-switch, and pickups, but it's almost my favorite guitar the way it is. Then there is my 2012 50 year anniversary model Sorrento, which Epiphone made 1962 numbered versions of, USA Gibson made mini-humbuckers, and wiring (pots-caps-switch). Another 2012 50 year anniversary Sheraton, with Gibson USA mini-humbuckers, and wiring. A '66 reissue Century thin-line, modified before I bought it with a Gibson P-90 replacing the stock Epiphone pickup (never got to hear it), and a Graphtech bridge replacing the rosewood bridge (never got to hear original). I love my '66 reissue Century so much, I may buy a James Bay version, which is similar, but with a Kent Armstrong pickup, and Gibson USA pots-cap-switch. Maybe have flatwounds on one, round wounds on the other? I seriously love thin-line hollow-body guitars, which sound great un-amplified too. The thinner body tames the bass, which accentuating the mids and highs. What do you think.....?
A little too bright on the top end but sounds fantastic I was blown away by epiphone pro 189$ guitar it’s the best budget guitar in the world with a solid top and the hummingbird pro was also great can’t believe how good epiphone overseas has gotten over the years
For a rhythm/campfire strummer/songwriter Frontier, Hummingbird, or Excellente
Just found another short - cut this is not a solid ebony bridge . It’s a thin layer of ebony glued on top of the bridge. Too may short cuts / I call this just plain old mis - reputations/ another words crafted lying. What has the word come too.
Great review man just looked at one at Coda music England £739.00
Hi John. How does the excellente compare to the Yamaha Red label drought-naught and which do you prefer? Tough question I expect…
Ridiculous
To be ridiculous is to be something which is highly incongruous or inferior, sometimes deliberately so to make people laugh or get their attention, and sometimes unintendedly so as to be considered laughable and earn or provoke ridicule and derision
Nice guitar. Shame they didn't embellish the blank MOP on the headstock. Just my 2 cents worth.
My taste runs toward dot inlays, unbound ebony boards, simple binding, plain pickguards or none at all... When I saw this, I bookmarked it to show my wife the most garish and atrocious guitar I'd ever seen. Then I listened to it. Then I started searching out more reviews. Now I just ordered one .... Beauty is as beauty does!
If it's good enough for Loretta Lynne...
Great shirt JP , Kingston in the house !
How does the Excellente compare to the black LL16D?
Thanks for all the helpful info. You should be able to have any guitar you want free forever. Ann
I ordered this guitar so far its back order in GC.. bad news is everywhere is a back order. How long did you guys waited for this guitar?
Why cover all that Sitka with a piece of plastic? Gibson pickguards are really big.
Your saying what everybody already knows... when you buy a Gibson your buying the name the history you are not getting the very best guitar on the market...not for the money this video proves it
Me and two buddies of mine took a trip to Nashville about two weeks ago and checked out all the famous guitar geek spots, one being the Gibson Garage of course too. Anyhow we were missing around with a bunch of guitars and I decided to pick up an Epiphone 12 string in there and this exact thing happened to me ( and all 3 of us! ) the guitar was only $289.00!!!!
It’s home with me now and after just a simple string change it’s a canon and a half 😂
PS - The instrument is a Songmaker DR-212. If you haven’t yet….. try one out.
Snazzy looking pickguard even though you have complaints about it.
Looks like Epiphone has another winner on their hands. Another awesome video sir. And I have to say that I love Epiphone guitars. I have a 1965 FT79N Texan, and the Inspired By Gibson J200 and love both of them. I would love to try out that one. Keep up the awesome videos.
there were two epiphone exellentes owned by Junior Brown for sale at my local music shop called Strings and Things here in Santa Fe
Crap. $1300? I see they're now $1859 at Long and McQuade.
Loretta Lynn is my Hero, I cannot wait to own one of these.
Kinda like a Lexus es350 vs my Avalon
John pick one epiphone masterbilt excellente or Epiphone frontier $1,200
I have it.....go-get one Now
Gibson is not stupid they own Epiphone hell they are making money off Epiphone.
Just get outa town..🤣😆.. LOVE IT J.P 😆🌞⭐️👍🏻❤️
Mastbilt Frontier for US$800 is amazing. They realized it was worthy of prettier version marketed as IBG for $4k, but sound almost the same. Frontier and Excellante are cousins with different solid woods.
I thought 'inspired by Gibson' was only for models that were/are made under the Gibson name... Frontier and Excellent are Epiphone models from the beginning, and never Gibson models..... Excellente, however could be a good candidate for a made in USA model (Sheraton should have a USA model too).
@@kennikuhlmann-clark9860 Gibson marketing is really very screwed up and making a mess of the positioning of Epiphone models they own. IBG does indeed seem to be a mid-tier level of certain Gibson guitars, but everything about them including construction/quality seems to be the same as their Masterbilt line that are amazing guitars for the money. The IBS Hummingbird has had amazing reviews similar to all the 3-4 Masterbilt line at the same price/quality point. They have cheaper similar models at a lower price point and then Made in the USA models that are 4-5x the cost of the Masterbilt/IBS line positioned at the high end like many Gibsons.