Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500 RNS - James Snedeker, Jr.
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Here is a quick review of my Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500RNS. This was recorded with an MXL-990 about 12" away from the 12th fret, straight into the mic pre on my Echo Gina 3G interface. A minimal amount of limiting was used, no other EQ or effects.
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For the money there is nothing better than the Masterbilt Epihone. A set of the new Ernie Ball medium (12 to 54) strings allows for amazing tonal latitude through an amp.
David Childers I couldn’t agree more. I was looking for a new acoustic a few years back and none under $1200 new were even coming close, so I gave up. If anyone wants to donate me a Gibson J 45, I’ll take it so as not to be rude!
Ive had one of these for about 5 years. Have had Taylors, and martins.... they are gone. All that's left is my dr500rns, and my two Eastmans. What is great about these Masterbilt guitars, is that the wood actually is very accurate. The Rosewood has the true overtones that Rosewood SHOULD have. Same with there mahogany guitars (detailed and rounded). Surprisingly enough alot of guitars are NOT true to their tonewoods. Even some of the higher end ones.
Robbie Cleigh Marks I agree, Robbie. I was looking at upgrading awhile ago. Nothing under $1K rang in my hands like this one.
I have the same guitar. I love it too. Keep rockin'.
Jon Platz I still have it! It’s one I’ll never get rid of.
Excellent review! RNS is rosewood, natural, satin, btw. I love mine. So rich, warm, and full.Whenever I let another guitarist play it they are always shocked by how good it sounds. I bought it after comparing it to Martins, and I totally agree with you, it beats the low-end and even mid-range Martins, Taylors, pretty much everything I tried out. I don't think they make them anymore, so if you can find a decent used one, grab it. You won't be sorry.
Buck Dharma Thanks, Buck! I will. Never. Sell. This. Guitar.
I just acquired a DR-500 RANGH. I think it's a 2003 model and it's awesome! I think the letters stand for Rosewood, Adirondack, Natural, Gold Hardware. I don't doubt the top is Adirondack, it sure barks!!
That is fantastic! I really want the little concert sized cutaway EF model. Those don’t pop up too often. I think mine actually means Rosewood Natural Satin. Congrats! Enjoy it. They’re greatly under valued.
@@jamesjrmusic Good luck finding one. I'm having trouble looking up the serial #, Can't seem to find the mfg date, any insights?
Great demo. I recently traded an electric Ibanez for a DR-500 RNS. Someone wanted a guitar I had and this is what he had to trade. I wasn't looking for an acoustic, my main guitar is a Martin hd28v but I traded for the Epi anyway. I am really pleased with the sound and surprised. I play it regularly although I will say it doesn't have near the tone my Martin has and the neck is not as comfortable BUT it didn't cost over 3 grand either. It's a nice guitar.
Arvin Batterton Thanks! That is awesome news. Let’s try to keep these to ourselves. The used prices have already been steadily climbing. We don’t need to drive it up more!
I have one too, my first few frets are shot. They seem really soft, anyone else have the same issue?
Not at all. Did you buy it new?
@@jamesjrmusic No, but the frets were like new when I got it. It was a couple of years old so I'm sure they are they original frets, if not they're worse than I thought.
I have a cheap Chinese "starter pack" Fender acoustic and I've owned it for 13 years, it's frets are still in pretty good shape. The Epiphone's are shot.
@@Vichedges My frets are still in great shape. I’ll keep that in mind when I look for more of these used. What gauge strings do you use?
Saw Keb' Mo' flaunt one of these in one of his latest music videos just the other day. Guess it also meets his approval as well...
😉
If it's good enough for Keb . . .
hey man! thanks for the video :) i already bought my dr 500 rns hahaha greeeat guitar!
Icaro Moreira Thanks, bud! It's probably my favorite guitar. It's the only one I've never considered replacing.
James Junior seriously. this is the best guitar that i ever played. here in brazil a taylor or martin with only solid top is almost 1.800 dollars cuz of the taxes. i bought my epiphone in Canada. paid 550 canadian dollars...im really happy with everything. i did install a lr baggs anthem sl. hands down for that pickup
my dream is get a gibson but to a brazilian like me is almost impossible. my canadian uncle came to brazil and bring this epiphone to me...did you already compare this epiphone against a gibson ? the gibson smash this epphone? i was thinking about it today...
Some of the Gibson's are real crap. I played one the other day that a fellow had got for over 2 grand and my masterbilt and even the Epiphone dove smashed it! I had a Gibson dove and my Epiphone dove pro sounded much better, was better volume and much greater tone. Go for sound not name, as all pro's know.
@@larryacord5497 Purely anecdotal. Everyone who owns a cheaper guitar claims it's better than more expensive ones.
I own an Epiphone 500 DR-MNS, it's nice but it's no Gibson and it definitely feels cheaper. Like I said in an earlier post my first probably 5 frets need replaced after a few years of playing it. It has the softest frets of any guitar I've ever owned. I owned one of those cheap Chinese "starter pack" Fender acoustics and I played it for close to 10 years, it's frets were nowhere near as worn as the Epiphone's.
I mean the Epiphone is a very good guitar but it also has concessions that were made for the price point at which it was sold.
Epiphones are great guitars. I would love to have a Gibson too, the J-15 aren't too expensive (for a Gibson) but Yamaha also make some great acoustics. I own some expensive electrics but I've never owned an expensive acoustic. I'm not very good so an Epiphone is good enough for me. Mine sounds great except for worn frets. The frets on my Masterbilt 500 Dr-MNS are the softest I've ever seen on a guitar.
If you have a Masterbilt you have a very good guitar and I wouldn't worry too much about how it compares to a Gibson. Plenty of great music was written and played on cheap guitars. Kurt Cobain used a cheap Stella to write and play Something In The Way and I believe Polly.
I never compared it side by side, but I preferred the sound to any of the sub $2000 Gibsons I played at that time. It’s really not a traditional Gibson style acoustic though, like J45. It’s more like a Martin. So it’s kind of apples and oranges.
Epi Masterbilts have a lifetime warranty. you should let them look at it
I bought mine used.
All US made guitars are massively overpriced when compared with equally well made SE Asian guitars. Gibson's, Martin's, Collins, Taylor, Larriviee are in my opinion overrated and living off past glories. As well as the Chinese made Epiphone Masterbilts its worth checking out the Chinese made FG 800 series or the LL ARE series, Yamaha's which are a much better bang for buck.
Tony smith That's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that import guitars are even more overpriced when compared to the cost of building them.
If you are a US resident/customer you might accept paying more money for the same quality because you want to protect US jobs, not being American I couldn't careless about that, I just want good quality at a reasonable price. Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Indonesian guitars offer this but US made do not, its as simple as that as far as I'm concerned.
If you're talking about features and quality compared to the price you pay, there are Asian guitars that present a great value in those regards. When you say "overpriced" regarding profit margin, there are $1500 Indonesian guitars these days. Those guitars have a better profit margin for the manufacturer than a Japanese or American model.
It's a matter of perspective about what "overpriced" means. Generally speaking in the guitar industry, more expensive guitars have better margins regardless of origin.
There used to be a time when there were no good quality Indonesian or Chinese guitars. That has changed drastically in recent years. I think most people buy American guitars because it used mean "higher quality" and less so because of it supporting American jobs.
I'm specifically talking about SE Asian guitars in the £300-£600 price range compared with US made guitars in the £800-£1500 price range.
Its a perception that they are better quality but that isn't always necessarily true, look at the Yamaha's and Masterbilt's as an example excellent quality Chinese made and inexpensive. Not all American guitars are well made I've seen some really crap Gibson's in my time..