It just occurred to me that I watched this video even though I'm not really interested in the guitar. You guys are enjoyable to watch either way, and I always know I'll hear a great demo no matter what guitar you're talking about!
All Epiphones today are top notch since JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone back in 2019/2020..as a matter of fact I'm one out of many who refuses to even look at a Gibson anymore many of us have waited since 1976 that's when Norlin deliberately ruined epiphone out of jealousy because Epiphone trounced Gibson in sales..well that man who saved epiphone was JC Curliegh..we don't want to see Gibson..and did you know the vast majority of Vintage Epiphones are worth a lot more than any Gibson vintage better start researching before you say anything about Epiphone..and of course we all know now that Les Paul and Epiphone are the daddy of the Gibson solid body guitar aka Les Paul guitar.. don't use the lame excuses it's made in China doesn't work anymore..the epiphone Quingdao facility is owned and operated by Gibson Epiphone USA with American and Asian luthiers and only Epiphones are made there..THE END
The original models made in the 60's only numbered at 135 units. I saw a video by JD Comier who claimed it was one of the best guitars he ever played, and then he played it and showed why he felt that way and I was sold. I managed to get one and I have to tell you, at 1200 bucks, it punches way above its price point, equal or better than more expensive acoustics. Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn played original models, and Loretta played hers all the way until she passed.
@@paulapykala9432Prove that about JP. The guy is a professional musician. He does do a lot of reviews, but he’s not about to pretend something is good, when it isn’t. He will rip on something he dislikes. I’ve played one of these Excellente recently, and I’d buy one. It sounded and felt great.
@@paulapykala9432 His videos convinced me to the Epiphone Frontier and the Epiphone Hummingbird. But he claimed they were better than Gibsons and that's just not accurate. I liked the Frontier but ended up selling both. They are heavy and resonate in a limited range of frequencies. The Gibsons are lighter and just resonate more.
@@zorglubmagnus455they are better than Gibson and no one really wants Gibson anymore not since the restoration of Epiphone in 2020 I have three 2021 high end Epiphones I would never sell or trade for any Gibson
I had two Mastrblts in the early 2000’s. On was a slope shouldered dreadnaught AJ500 RNS (?). It sounded so good I almost kept it and sold my Taylor 410. The other one was a cedar top and rosewood body for finger style playing that I sold to a worship leader. I didn’t like the DR series very much but those two I wish I had kept. I paid $400 for the AJ and $550 for the EF. Fabulous deals for fabulous guitars.
I have 4 Epiphone Masterbilts. All made in Indonesia. My favorites are the ones with Rosewood back and sides - the big AJ-500RCE & the smaller EF-500RCCE. I bought them in 2014. They sound amazing then. They sound phenomenal today 10 years later. I hand-polished them to high-gloss. Fantastic guitars.
The spruce top is a little thick, that restricts the sound a little bit, and found the pick guard a little on the cheap side. I think it's done on purpose to protect the Gibson line, of people buying Epiphones over, say a Gibson Hummingbird. I found the Epiphone Hummingbird, and Dove lackluster. However, I found the J180 Epiphone excellent, with a great finish and details. If I was to buy a modern Epiphone built in Asia, it would be the custom shop Epiphone J180.
I've always wondered how much huge pick guards affect the tone and volume of a guitar. Seems like the top won't be able to vibrate well wherever there's a huge chunk of hard thick plastic stuck on it. Maybe the effect isn't huge, it would be interesting to see a scientific test to see how much difference pick guards, especially double guards, make.
Bought one from Alamo last year and had them remove the pick guard. Sounds good and for the price I can leave it on the stand while my Labs play in the cabin.
The sound is so full....beautiful , Thanks Cooper and Chris :) ...the only thing I don't like is that pearloid thing on the headstock :/ I should come to the downtown store someday, just to hang out ;p
Sweet sounding guitar. Nice choice in the old I IV V in E? Love my Epi Sheraton pro ii. I can cover a lot of stuff with that guitar. Good value for the money.
Sounds real nice but I think Cooper could make almost any guitar sound good. Maybe a little overly decorative and pricey but that’s just me. Thanks for the demo and the overall video.
Hey Chris - Cooper, when you’re talking the manufacturing people that matter on acoustic brands, can you broach the subject of why they don’t offer locking tuners on some of their models? To me it’s an absolute no-brainer. Locking tuners are nothing new but only come from the factory on electric guitars. All of my electrics have locking tuners. If they don’t come with them I put them on. I don’t put any focus on tuning stability, it’s a simple matter of it’s a helluva lot faster to change strings. Never understood why a quality acoustic brand doesn’t incorporate this.
I like that version of Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain for sure! I have a DR-400 MCE, I think you guys showed this off years ago, mine is a 2017. That was $400 and I've compared it to the newer Masterbilts. I don't think they improved all that much since the DR 400, 500 & 600 days. Sure their headstocks looked goofy, but they grow on you :) I like the Texan out of the current bunch, the mahogany back & sides make it a freakin' cannon. At least these Masterbilt's are finally using real wood and not plastic for the fingerboards though. I wish they would use different tuning pegs though, I can't stand gold :) OK, end the video, the more I look at this guitar I'm liking it more and more, and I want a D-28 not another Epi right now :D
This guitar has been available for several years! As recent as 2021 the LIST price was $799 and on MF, & with thier monthly email 15% discount you & I could purchase an Epiphone Masterbuilt Exellente for about $680 w/ free shipping. Now look at this guitar throut the lens of $680 - 'nuff said - IYKYK.
I have a vintage ‘64 Texan and was able to track down an original ‘64 catalogue on reverb shortly after purchase. It actually cost MORE than a Gibson J-45 in that year. Not a budget brand. USE NICKEL.
I've played it here th-cam.com/video/DFryFxKsTzs/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared , and compared to other Masterbilts , the looks are better than the sound unfortunately... Not very loud and kind of constricted by the thick laquer... And oh my, so heavy, heavier than anything else I've got ( 40 + acoustics)
I would rather have a case with it than a crappy pickup . Makes no sense to me . Then if it ships fed ex, they’re a 60 percent chance you will never get anyway !
If they would remove the giant splotch of bird poop off the headstock and put a reasonable looking guard on the top, I might buy it. But not this. It's just too much.
Yeah epiphone the father of your Gibson Les Paul solid body guitar aka Les Paul guitar.get over it it was over for Gibson when JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone back to premium in 2020 Epiphone rules over Gibson again just like they did in the good o'l days.
Very articulate bass and overall good sound .
It just occurred to me that I watched this video even though I'm not really interested in the guitar. You guys are enjoyable to watch either way, and I always know I'll hear a great demo no matter what guitar you're talking about!
That pick guard looks like Batman is trying to hide behind a lamppost but the wind blew the cape into view.
Absolutely beautiful. I have a Frontier and I absolutely adore it.
Look who’s back! Trimmed that Grizzly Adam’s beard!
I remember Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lyn playing these back in the day!
All Epiphones today are top notch since JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone back in 2019/2020..as a matter of fact I'm one out of many who refuses to even look at a Gibson anymore many of us have waited since 1976 that's when Norlin deliberately ruined epiphone out of jealousy because Epiphone trounced Gibson in sales..well that man who saved epiphone was JC Curliegh..we don't want to see Gibson..and did you know the vast majority of Vintage Epiphones are worth a lot more than any Gibson vintage better start researching before you say anything about Epiphone..and of course we all know now that Les Paul and Epiphone are the daddy of the Gibson solid body guitar aka Les Paul guitar.. don't use the lame excuses it's made in China doesn't work anymore..the epiphone Quingdao facility is owned and operated by Gibson Epiphone USA with American and Asian luthiers and only Epiphones are made there..THE END
Agreed.. I will spend $1,700 on the legendary Epiphone not a cent on Gibson
The original models made in the 60's only numbered at 135 units. I saw a video by JD Comier who claimed it was one of the best guitars he ever played, and then he played it and showed why he felt that way and I was sold. I managed to get one and I have to tell you, at 1200 bucks, it punches way above its price point, equal or better than more expensive acoustics. Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn played original models, and Loretta played hers all the way until she passed.
JP Cormier claims everything he has ever played is the best he's ever played. He gets payed to 'review' read- gush over- guitars.
@@paulapykala9432Prove that about JP. The guy is a professional musician. He does do a lot of reviews, but he’s not about to pretend something is good, when it isn’t. He will rip on something he dislikes.
I’ve played one of these Excellente recently, and I’d buy one. It sounded and felt great.
@@paulapykala9432 His videos convinced me to the Epiphone Frontier and the Epiphone Hummingbird. But he claimed they were better than Gibsons and that's just not accurate. I liked the Frontier but ended up selling both. They are heavy and resonate in a limited range of frequencies. The Gibsons are lighter and just resonate more.
@@zorglubmagnus455they are better than Gibson and no one really wants Gibson anymore not since the restoration of Epiphone in 2020 I have three 2021 high end Epiphones I would never sell or trade for any Gibson
Sounds great! Surprised for sure. Dark and moody bass. I like it!
Let's be real. Any guitar in Coopers hands is "EXCELLENTE"🎸🎸🎸. Rock on Cooper.
that pick guard will keep me awake at night!!!
Good presentation. I like the way you've projected fun!
Chris is back 🥳🙌🏾
Love the guitar, good tone and great guitar player as well.
I had two Mastrblts in the early 2000’s. On was a slope shouldered dreadnaught AJ500 RNS (?). It sounded so good I almost kept it and sold my Taylor 410. The other one was a cedar top and rosewood body for finger style playing that I sold to a worship leader. I didn’t like the DR series very much but those two I wish I had kept. I paid $400 for the AJ and $550 for the EF. Fabulous deals for fabulous guitars.
I have 4 Epiphone Masterbilts. All made in Indonesia. My favorites are the ones with Rosewood back and sides - the big AJ-500RCE & the smaller EF-500RCCE. I bought them in 2014. They sound amazing then. They sound phenomenal today 10 years later. I hand-polished them to high-gloss. Fantastic guitars.
The spruce top is a little thick, that restricts the sound a little bit, and found the pick guard a little on the cheap side. I think it's done on purpose to protect the Gibson line, of people buying Epiphones over, say a Gibson Hummingbird. I found the Epiphone Hummingbird, and Dove lackluster. However, I found the J180 Epiphone excellent, with a great finish and details. If I was to buy a modern Epiphone built in Asia, it would be the custom shop Epiphone J180.
I've always wondered how much huge pick guards affect the tone and volume of a guitar. Seems like the top won't be able to vibrate well wherever there's a huge chunk of hard thick plastic stuck on it. Maybe the effect isn't huge, it would be interesting to see a scientific test to see how much difference pick guards, especially double guards, make.
Love the quality sound😊😊😊🎉🎉🎉
Bought one from Alamo last year and had them remove the pick guard. Sounds good and for the price I can leave it on the stand while my Labs play in the cabin.
Agreed on Epiphone’s finishes, the ones I’ve tried always seem to have enough poly finish to sink a battleship.
The sound is so full....beautiful , Thanks Cooper and Chris :) ...the only thing I don't like is that pearloid thing on the headstock :/ I should come to the downtown store someday, just to hang out ;p
Sweet sounding guitar. Nice choice in the old I IV V in E? Love my Epi Sheraton pro ii. I can cover a lot of stuff with that guitar. Good value for the money.
i was literally looking to buy this today lol
Nice pickin' Coop
How much is the guitar that will make me be able to play like Cooper I don’t care if it comes with a gig bag
Have you guys done a review of the IBG Slash J45?
Sounds real nice but I think Cooper could make almost any guitar sound good.
Maybe a little overly decorative and pricey but that’s just me.
Thanks for the demo and the overall video.
Love that eagle. Seems an army guitar ahah
Hey Chris - Cooper, when you’re talking the manufacturing people that matter on acoustic brands, can you broach the subject of why they don’t offer locking tuners on some of their models? To me it’s an absolute no-brainer. Locking tuners are nothing new but only come from the factory on electric guitars. All of my electrics have locking tuners. If they don’t come with them I put them on. I don’t put any focus on tuning stability, it’s a simple matter of it’s a helluva lot faster to change strings. Never understood why a quality acoustic brand doesn’t incorporate this.
I like that version of Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain for sure! I have a DR-400 MCE, I think you guys showed this off years ago, mine is a 2017. That was $400 and I've compared it to the newer Masterbilts. I don't think they improved all that much since the DR 400, 500 & 600 days. Sure their headstocks looked goofy, but they grow on you :) I like the Texan out of the current bunch, the mahogany back & sides make it a freakin' cannon. At least these Masterbilt's are finally using real wood and not plastic for the fingerboards though. I wish they would use different tuning pegs though, I can't stand gold :) OK, end the video, the more I look at this guitar I'm liking it more and more, and I want a D-28 not another Epi right now :D
This guitar has been available for several years! As recent as 2021 the LIST price was $799 and on MF, & with thier monthly email 15% discount you & I could purchase an Epiphone Masterbuilt Exellente for about $680 w/ free shipping. Now look at this guitar throut the lens of $680 - 'nuff said - IYKYK.
How is the intonation? The bridge looks really measured out.
You do get a case !
Didn't The Gibson June Carter Cash have a top and bottom pickguard? Basically bat shaped pickguard with a neck
Let’s not kid ourselves, this particular guitar is better than some, key word here being SOME, US made Gibson guitars.
I have a vintage ‘64 Texan and was able to track down an original ‘64 catalogue on reverb shortly after purchase. It actually cost MORE than a Gibson J-45 in that year. Not a budget brand. USE NICKEL.
It sounds better than it looks in my opinion. I have an old school Epiphone case, but I will pass. Thanks guys for the great video.
Most Excellente
Is it solid wood?
Yes, Sitka + Ovangkol, but unfortunately very thick laquer is covering the woods and the resonance seems quite obstructed for such a large guitar
Sweet!
Man why don’t you release tab for your stuff?
It should of at least come with a gig bag at that price
Epiphone started making the excellentey in 1967 , not 4 or 5 years ago.
My bad. They’re talking about the newer version.
I've played it here th-cam.com/video/DFryFxKsTzs/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared , and compared to other Masterbilts , the looks are better than the sound unfortunately... Not very loud and kind of constricted by the thick laquer... And oh my, so heavy, heavier than anything else I've got ( 40 + acoustics)
Sounds like some of you can't afford Epiphones save your money
Refreshing to see a brand, other than Martin or Taylor, getting some coverage.
I think Loretta Lynn played one.
On a scale of 1-10 I give it a 7. Average at best. And the preamp system is not great. I thought the tone Cooper coaxed out of it was a 7.5 though.
#WaynesWorld #WaynesWorld #Excellante
I would rather have a case with it than a crappy pickup . Makes no sense to me . Then if it ships fed ex, they’re a 60 percent chance you will never get anyway !
Tried one. Overbuilt, and really dead sounding. I'm not really a fan of a dry Gibson sound, but this one sounds like it had something stuffed in it.
A tree had to die for this.
If they would remove the giant splotch of bird poop off the headstock and put a reasonable looking guard on the top, I might buy it. But not this. It's just too much.
Sorry guys that thing is gaudy. 🤷♂️
Still sounds like a cheap sounding Epiphone...and ugly to boot.
According to the "excelente" selling they reported, people don't give a fuck about your edgy opinion. Have a nice day though :D
So… still better than a Taylor?
I kid Taylor, I kid! 😂
I love it when the uneducated snobs come out and identify themselves!😂😂
Sounds very nice,wish they made them lefty
Yeah epiphone the father of your Gibson Les Paul solid body guitar aka Les Paul guitar.get over it it was over for Gibson when JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone back to premium in 2020 Epiphone rules over Gibson again just like they did in the good o'l days.
Somewhat Affordable.? LMAO.!!
More music sound less talking guys please
There are time stamps to skip to what you want.
The chance of me being interested in a high end Epiphone is exactly zero. Hard cringe zero to be exact. Nice video guys, but NO.
Would rather spend the money on an Eastman, Alvarez or Sigma.
Well you do that.. majority will stay with the legendary Epiphone..