February 2020, I bought an Epiphone Masterbilt Century Deluxe, round hole. I paid it €550 in Europe. The guitar is very well made, very robust build, quite heavy. I switched immediately to 0.013 gauge strings, and set the action to about 2mm (high E string) and 3mm (low E string) at the 12th fret, no fret buzz at all and very good playability. The neck is thick and straight and didn't bend with the 0.013 strings, so I had not to tweak the truss rod. The acoustic sound is very good to me, not loud but balanced and present, kind of "dry" tone very good for fingerpicking (I play with bare fingertips), the counterpoint comes out very well. The A and Ab on the low E string "boom" a little if you stay sitting with the guitar on your legs, but this effect disappears if you use a guitar strap (Rev. Gary Davis style) and the back of the guitar touches your belly. The amplified sound is very good too, even if the tone and volume potentiometers don't seem to be high quality ones. The overall impression is "I'm very happy of this purchase, I want to play it all the time". High quality-price ratio.
If you are looking for that classic acoustic archtop sound, these are hard to beat. Solid top, classic laminate back and sides, ebony fretboard, that amazing looking headstock, cool vintage looking tuners.. AND a built in pickup.. voiced for an archtop. For under $700 retail? Once these are set up right they sound and play as good as anything at 5 times the price. This guitar was NOT designed to sound like a dreadnaught acoustic. This was designed to sound like a classic archtop. The thing nails that sound. Put this in the hands of someone who can play in that style and it absolutely rips! We are living in the age of great affordable guitars... (I guess... thank you China!)
I have the Zeinith MB as a singer songwriter it took a minute to figure out where it fits in and how to use it. The back and sides are a laminate! I just wish they would've put a body sensitive magnetic neck pickup in (hidden or not) with the ability to blend would've been a game changer for crossover musicians! The only negatives I've found is there really needs to be some acoustic preamping going on with the tone control on at all or it gets pretty brittle and being that they are a floating bridge the piezo is easily damaged moving the bridge under tension or if placed into a tight fitting guitar case.
@profile2047 I think The Loar is probably the best option, if you just want a decent arch top for pure traditional / folk music or jazz. I still love the natural compression and mellow acoustic tones of the Zenith.
Just once I'd like to see and hear a video of one of these unplugged... the way an acoustic archtop is supposed to be. That pickup is handy I suppose. But I've never ever heard one that sounds good.
they are fking killer once the wood cures out 7 to 10 years down the road you wont believe the tone .. Rose wood back and sides spruce top is killer . Myself I hate a electric box guitar . its not just right .
There was a lot of fret buzz on that demo of a Masterbuilt Epi. The dude tryed his best to do a great demostration of that gtr, but it was a failure cause of that ringing behind. On an electric guitar it doesn't matter, but in a acoustic it became so awful.
Would be cool. Jazz players will be a big demographic interested in these and Jazz players prefer the quick decay of laminate back and sides so that actually makes sense.
The old Selmer/Macaferri's that the Gypsy Jazzers made famous back in the 30's were made with laminate back and sides. The thinking was a stronger build less affected by weather extremes, rather than how it affects tone. Also had a slightly arched top that was formed around the curved ladder bracing, and not carved -- which is probably how these are done. The tension in the top was to give it more "punch", which it did quite well. Like the guy said, they were designed to be heard over a lot of instrumentation in jazz bands, which is why jazzers picked up on them so readily.
I know all the previous masterbuilts were all solid. I thought these were, too. I think he's incorrect in stating they are laminate. These are $1000 guitars, no way are they laminate.
The reason the back is laminate is the same reason why it's very hard to make a solid archtop at this price. If you were to carve an archtop out of a piece of wood, you could get maybe 5 flat tops out of the same wood. The fact that they are using a solid top at all is remarkable given the amount of tonewood required. Now imagine they did the same with the back, which also happens to be arched on these. The price would be ridiculous. That's why most solid wood archtops run upwards of $3000, usually more like $5000. You can probably make half a dozen flattop guitars with the same amount of tonewood it takes to make one high-end archtop. To be honest, I have no idea how they hit the $1200 price point with these. Seems like they're incredibly good value.
I'm trying...really TRYING to get behind this company and their guitars. I own 3 EF500RCCE Masterbilts, One DR500M Masterbilt, the Les Paul Bass, a set neck G1275, and last but not least the Silverburst Lmt. Edt. 1966 SG400, (with an aftermarket Stetsbar Tremelo. I play them live everywhere I can, I talk them UP until I'm blue in the face...but here, for all the world to see...the company sends PAUL. Paul, at the SNAMM SHOW, showing off the latest greatest...doesn't even KNOW if the guitars are solid bodies, or laminates. R E A L L Y Epiphone??? I'm about this close to sending my resume. Not cool guys!
Yea he could barely play the thing as well........was hoping to hear my info and get a player to jam it out, oh well. i love epiphone, been playing them for 20 years. i have a les pauls custom sg in pelham blue, that i adore so deeply. I also have an ice tea 335 custom shop with block in lays, she plays like a dream. i dropped her a few years ago and snapped the headtock off though. I found a luthier in the city that did an amazing job fixing her though. still plays like a dream after the mishap. Im def looking into a masterbuilt acoustic, played one a few weeks ago and feel in love.
I swear by my EF500RCCE guitars. Solid Spruce top, SOLID ROSEWOOD sides and back, compare them to ANY Taylor or Gibson, 414, 614's...doesn't matter. Stereo outputs, tuner...you CANNOT go wrong!
thats awesome man, i cant wait to order one. Ive played a few lately and i cant get over how amazing they feel in hand, and they werent even broken in yet! i have put them up aganist some taylors and i liked them more! epiphone has come a long way in the last few years, u cant get anything better at their price points. Im in love with their LPs and SGs.
My brother gave me his Epiphone Dot a few years ago. I've always been a true blue Gibson name brand guy, I've got a Les Paul Standard, J-45, SG bass, etc. I loved the way the Dot played, the action, the neck, the body all fantastic. But, the electronics were junk. I took it to a music store in Ft. Worth and they put in two '57 classic pickups, all Gibson controls, braided wiring, etc. So I have 500.00 in it and I'll put it up against any ES-335 produced now. I love it!
1LOCKNLOAD i have a les paul pelham blue custom SG, its the greatest thing in the world, fat neck, pick ups roar. I do agree though the electronics could be better for sure. Ill eventually do what u did and replace them. On my 335 custom with block inlays, its the most perfect guitar i have, the electronics arent giving me issues, i enjoy the pickups, they do roar, though i will in the spring/summer upgrade them to classic '57s . The only bad thing that happened to my 335 was it slipped off a strap that i didnt lock with my strap locks and it feel to the ground snapping the headstock clean off! I took it to one of the best luthiers in Toronto. He said it may not be worth fixing it, i was like Hell no u are dude! he did and and then told me, "Hell the neck is amazing on this one" No wonder u want to fix it badly lol" His repair job is so good, u cant even tell that something that bad happened to it lol.
I agree. Seems less than inspiring. It's hard to find a video of these played by a decently good player familiar with the sounds they can make. Very disappointing.
Wow, these two guys have about as much personality as two potatoes. Not to mention, that guitar's low notes sounded like garbage. When he hit those low G's, I thought he just didn't press down hard enough, but he kept doing it and I realized that it was the guitar. I was going to buy one of these, too. I WAS...
The problem right there is the fact that Chris didn't play it unplugged. Nearly every demo of this guitar has the amplified sound. They should do both instead of just electric.
Traditional archtop Jazz guitars do not have bridge pick-ups, they have neck pick-ups, and generally those are the floating type so as not to interfere with the resonance of the tops. And yes this spokesman is not competent, or knowledgeable enough to lead to maximum sales potential.
I finally found one on display, the masterbilt century deluxe classis with the f holes. Didnt play through and amp. Was not inpresses at all. Terrible strings, bridge must have not been positioned right. Intonation way off. Played it for at least 45 minutes. Couldnt keep it in tune. Quality strings, a good set up, amplified, maybe...acoustically kind of lame....
@@stevenjustice9208 Ya clearly have never played the Regent from 95-03 era. Excellent guitar but no longer built. Compared to say the carved equivalent they are VERY good value for money and very good acoustic sounds. I'd say though a D'Angelico Excel 63 is by far a better acoustic [as it's this guitar's contemporary, but costs about 600-1000 more. Thing is, a REAL century costs thousands upon thousands. Realistically....nobody is going to spend that money one one guitar.
I agree, I've got one and the greatest quality of this guitar is its look. For the same price you can buy a guitar with a sober finish but a better sound and playability. Bass and treble are poor when played acoustic. I can understand it's more dedicated for jazz, but when plugged you don't get a jazz sound with the piezo. Fortunately, it's not very expensive.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 70 | คู่เอก "โฟกัส vs สเตฟาน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_fVieQ89DRQ/mqdefault.jpg)
February 2020, I bought an Epiphone Masterbilt Century Deluxe, round hole. I
paid it €550 in Europe. The guitar is very well made, very robust
build, quite heavy. I switched immediately to 0.013 gauge strings,
and set the action to about 2mm (high E string) and 3mm (low E
string) at the 12th fret, no fret buzz at all and very good
playability. The neck is thick and straight and didn't bend with the
0.013 strings, so I had not to tweak the truss rod. The acoustic
sound is very good to me, not loud but balanced and present, kind of
"dry" tone very good for fingerpicking (I play with bare
fingertips), the counterpoint comes out very well. The A and Ab on
the low E string "boom" a little if you stay sitting with
the guitar on your legs, but this effect disappears if you use a
guitar strap (Rev. Gary Davis style) and the back of the guitar
touches your belly. The amplified sound is very good too, even if the
tone and volume potentiometers don't seem to be high quality ones.
The overall impression is "I'm very happy of this purchase, I
want to play it all the time". High quality-price ratio.
The Eko Ekoette acoustic I learned to play on 45 years ago sounds just like this. I still have it too.
I love ekos, the old ones, my favorite guitar is an Eko 100 from the 1960s
What a lovely crystal sound.
In the hands of a jazz guitarist they sound great!
I've been dying to get one to do cowboy swing guitar. These would be perfect!
You nailed the sound exactly.
Very attractive guitars save the headstock ornamentation. Epiphones went from too understated to gaudy now.
When I first saw the thumbnail I thought that Bill Gates was playing :D
Just got a Epiphone ES-175 and it is beyond the sea, baby!!!!!
Would love to get my hands on one of these! Nice.......;)
Looks cooler than it sounds
I really want a 165 by Epiphone. But one of these with a built in CC would be a buy too.
I hope they make enough!
If you are looking for that classic acoustic archtop sound, these are hard to beat. Solid top, classic laminate back and sides, ebony fretboard, that amazing looking headstock, cool vintage looking tuners.. AND a built in pickup.. voiced for an archtop. For under $700 retail? Once these are set up right they sound and play as good as anything at 5 times the price.
This guitar was NOT designed to sound like a dreadnaught acoustic. This was designed to sound like a classic archtop. The thing nails that sound. Put this in the hands of someone who can play in that style and it absolutely rips! We are living in the age of great affordable guitars... (I guess... thank you China!)
All of a sudden, you get into a Jazz/blues mode, Freddie Green chunking, ya wish you got one, no tux needed.
Epiphone doesn't even have these on their website so where do we find them?
I have the Zeinith MB as a singer songwriter it took a minute to figure out where it fits in and how to use it. The back and sides are a laminate! I just wish they would've put a body sensitive magnetic neck pickup in (hidden or not) with the ability to blend would've been a game changer for crossover musicians! The only negatives I've found is there really needs to be some acoustic preamping going on with the tone control on at all or it gets pretty brittle and being that they are a floating bridge the piezo is easily damaged moving the bridge under tension or if placed into a tight fitting guitar case.
Or just no pickup for people like me that can’t find any arch top acoustics that aren’t trying to be more than an acoustic.
@profile2047 I think The Loar is probably the best option, if you just want a decent arch top for pure traditional / folk music or jazz. I still love the natural compression and mellow acoustic tones of the Zenith.
Just once I'd like to see and hear a video of one of these unplugged... the way an acoustic archtop is supposed to be. That pickup is handy I suppose. But I've never ever heard one that sounds good.
they are fking killer once the wood cures out 7 to 10 years down the road you wont believe the tone .. Rose wood back and sides spruce top is killer . Myself I hate a electric box guitar . its not just right .
There was a lot of fret buzz on that demo of a Masterbuilt Epi. The dude tryed his best to do a great demostration of that gtr, but it was a failure cause of that ringing behind. On an electric guitar it doesn't matter, but in a acoustic it became so awful.
Played the f hole ones at a guitar center recently. Really liked the more expensive one but the volume tone control felt very flimsy and cheap.
Would be cool. Jazz players will be a big demographic interested in these and Jazz players prefer the quick decay of laminate back and sides so that actually makes sense.
The old Selmer/Macaferri's that the Gypsy Jazzers made famous back in the 30's were made with laminate back and sides. The thinking was a stronger build less affected by weather extremes, rather than how it affects tone. Also had a slightly arched top that was formed around the curved ladder bracing, and not carved -- which is probably how these are done. The tension in the top was to give it more "punch", which it did quite well. Like the guy said, they were designed to be heard over a lot of instrumentation in jazz bands, which is why jazzers picked up on them so readily.
They probably won't like these if they are all like the one I tried. It had no punch and was heavier than an old Les Paul.
Sounds and looks awesome but I thought all masterbilts were all solid woods no laminates?
the top is solid
I know all the previous masterbuilts were all solid. I thought these were, too. I think he's incorrect in stating they are laminate. These are $1000 guitars, no way are they laminate.
The reason the back is laminate is the same reason why it's very hard to make a solid archtop at this price. If you were to carve an archtop out of a piece of wood, you could get maybe 5 flat tops out of the same wood. The fact that they are using a solid top at all is remarkable given the amount of tonewood required.
Now imagine they did the same with the back, which also happens to be arched on these. The price would be ridiculous. That's why most solid wood archtops run upwards of $3000, usually more like $5000. You can probably make half a dozen flattop guitars with the same amount of tonewood it takes to make one high-end archtop.
To be honest, I have no idea how they hit the $1200 price point with these. Seems like they're incredibly good value.
This guy dont like to play the Low E string?
Drinks for everyone!
where are they made?
Indonesia
they lookjust like the orig that my dad got b4 wwii
Epiphone Masterbilt realy
Love the look and feel, love it! But, sound like a bad vintage clone...
I'm trying...really TRYING to get behind this company and their guitars. I own 3 EF500RCCE Masterbilts, One DR500M Masterbilt, the Les Paul Bass, a set neck G1275, and last but not least the Silverburst Lmt. Edt. 1966 SG400, (with an aftermarket Stetsbar Tremelo. I play them live everywhere I can, I talk them UP until I'm blue in the face...but here, for all the world to see...the company sends PAUL. Paul, at the SNAMM SHOW, showing off the latest greatest...doesn't even KNOW if the guitars are solid bodies, or laminates. R E A L L Y Epiphone??? I'm about this close to sending my resume. Not cool guys!
Yea he could barely play the thing as well........was hoping to hear my info and get a player to jam it out, oh well. i love epiphone, been playing them for 20 years. i have a les pauls custom sg in pelham blue, that i adore so deeply. I also have an ice tea 335 custom shop with block in lays, she plays like a dream. i dropped her a few years ago and snapped the headtock off though. I found a luthier in the city that did an amazing job fixing her though. still plays like a dream after the mishap. Im def looking into a masterbuilt acoustic, played one a few weeks ago and feel in love.
I swear by my EF500RCCE guitars. Solid Spruce top, SOLID ROSEWOOD sides and back, compare them to ANY Taylor or Gibson, 414, 614's...doesn't matter. Stereo outputs, tuner...you CANNOT go wrong!
thats awesome man, i cant wait to order one. Ive played a few lately and i cant get over how amazing they feel in hand, and they werent even broken in yet! i have put them up aganist some taylors and i liked them more! epiphone has come a long way in the last few years, u cant get anything better at their price points. Im in love with their LPs and SGs.
My brother gave me his Epiphone Dot a few years ago. I've always been a true blue Gibson name brand guy, I've got a Les Paul Standard, J-45, SG bass, etc. I loved the way the Dot played, the action, the neck, the body all fantastic. But, the electronics were junk. I took it to a music store in Ft. Worth and they put in two '57 classic pickups, all Gibson controls, braided wiring, etc. So I have 500.00 in it and I'll put it up against any ES-335 produced now. I love it!
1LOCKNLOAD i have a les paul pelham blue custom SG, its the greatest thing in the world, fat neck, pick ups roar. I do agree though the electronics could be better for sure. Ill eventually do what u did and replace them. On my 335 custom with block inlays, its the most perfect guitar i have, the electronics arent giving me issues, i enjoy the pickups, they do roar, though i will in the spring/summer upgrade them to classic '57s . The only bad thing that happened to my 335 was it slipped off a strap that i didnt lock with my strap locks and it feel to the ground snapping the headstock clean off! I took it to one of the best luthiers in Toronto. He said it may not be worth fixing it, i was like Hell no u are dude! he did and and then told me, "Hell the neck is amazing on this one" No wonder u want to fix it badly lol" His repair job is so good, u cant even tell that something that bad happened to it lol.
This guy reminds me of Bruno
The usual misfits letting their spite out.great guitar not overplayed.good demonstration.
Lotsa fret buzzy wuzzy
Epiphone should hire a better guitar player/product specialist - I'm interested in the guitar, but I have doubts now...
Megalith Epiphone's official channel has a wonderful demonstration. And these are very faithful, accurate recreations of the original arch tops.
I agree. Seems less than inspiring. It's hard to find a video of these played by a decently good player familiar with the sounds they can make. Very disappointing.
New Epiphones are lame. This includes the Masterbilt models.
Wow, these two guys have about as much personality as two potatoes. Not to mention, that guitar's low notes sounded like garbage. When he hit those low G's, I thought he just didn't press down hard enough, but he kept doing it and I realized that it was the guitar. I was going to buy one of these, too. I WAS...
yay no dr. epiphone
The player kills the natural subtle tone with this boomy effect and his blacksmith
playing .For the " Deluxe " test listen to .... Chris SCRUGGS .
The problem right there is the fact that Chris didn't play it unplugged. Nearly every demo of this guitar has the amplified sound. They should do both instead of just electric.
Traditional archtop Jazz guitars do not have bridge pick-ups, they have neck pick-ups, and generally those are the floating type so as not to interfere with the resonance of the tops. And yes this spokesman is not competent, or knowledgeable enough to lead to maximum sales potential.
ES-175D.
This guy really should know about the back and sides... A bit disappointing.
Sounds terrible, looks ok. Solid usually means pressed, not carved. Laminate back and sides. Better off with loar or eastman
Loars are terrible quality and horrific setup. Eastman...ya definitely better but do you want your money going to china?
What a creepy look over his glasses he gave while playing.
I finally found one on display, the masterbilt century deluxe classis with the f holes. Didnt play through and amp. Was not inpresses at all. Terrible strings, bridge must have not been positioned right. Intonation way off. Played it for at least 45 minutes. Couldnt keep it in tune. Quality strings, a good set up, amplified, maybe...acoustically kind of lame....
so it's more a review of the bloke who set it up.
@@shaalis I suspect it was right out of the box. It's a POS guitar, all Epiphone guitar are.
@@stevenjustice9208 Ya clearly have never played the Regent from 95-03 era. Excellent guitar but no longer built. Compared to say the carved equivalent they are VERY good value for money and very good acoustic sounds. I'd say though a D'Angelico Excel 63 is by far a better acoustic [as it's this guitar's contemporary, but costs about 600-1000 more. Thing is, a REAL century costs thousands upon thousands. Realistically....nobody is going to spend that money one one guitar.
They are pretty and inexpensive but neither their playability nor sound is anywhere near decent.
I agree, I've got one and the greatest quality of this guitar is its look. For the same price you can buy a guitar with a sober finish but a better sound and playability. Bass and treble are poor when played acoustic. I can understand it's more dedicated for jazz, but when plugged you don't get a jazz sound with the piezo. Fortunately, it's not very expensive.
Epiphone....pathetic attempt at recreating the Masterbilts of yesteryear. Very thin with an acoustic sound muting electric bridge.....what a waste.
How come this guitar sounds like shit?
$700 guitar and the case is extra... huh?