I've done a video with the older version of Masterbilt series where I compared China vs Indonesia and honestly the China sounded way better, louder and more like a vintage instrument... Lighter weight and just resonant
@@brentpalmer2577 It looks that it's more about the finishing laquer thickness weight... A better scalloped bracing ( lighter and thinner) would make also for a more resonating guitar top
Firstly, when you want to buy an instrument of a certain value, you go to a store, you try it, you look, you listen, you make your personal choice. Second, is having the right country of origin more important than the qualities of the instrument itself? Why would a guitar made in China be intrinsically bad compared to a guitar made in Indonesia, if you buy with your eyes closed? Epiphone clearly indicates on its website that the characteristics of each instrument may change at any time without having to expressly notify it. These are the rules of the game. Finally, why not save more and choose a guitar made in the USA, if provenance and authenticity are so important to you? “Play Authentic!” said an enlightened man... Cheers, from Brittany !
Just wondering if you tuned that China made one up and gave it a try. Their were three of them Strait music in Austin Texas 2 made in Indonesia and one in China . I have had three of the Indonesian and they all super sound and crafted. But the China made sounded better than the Indonesia this time at the store hands down by me and 4 other musicians . I guess they slip a rib-bi in with the pork chops every now and then . lol . Hollar back at me if you play Ed it . Thanks Jeff Clark out of Rockdale Texas
Hey Jeff thanks for the reply. Yes I did tune it up and it didn't sound bad at all. In fact I really couldn't tell the difference of the sound from the Indonesian model. I guess what turned me off the most about it was they lied to me and promised me it would be Indonesian made and the fact that I could tell that it had cheaper made material as far as the saddle and the nut. The finish was definitely different as well and to be honest it felt a little lighter than the Indonesian model. And on the sidewood on the inside there was no sidebracing whatsoever the Indonesian model is full of side bracing. They shouldn't be charging the same price as far as I'm concerned. But yes they do slip in a ribeye with the pork chops every now and then haha.
Yep ! I would have been tee- off too. They are most definitely built lighter. The Indonesia made is better craftsman ship. That price on the china should be less . But for strumming the hell out it at local bars the China made will work. The hummingbird ibg is the only one I really thought was way beyond it price. The j-45 and sj-200 didn’t impress me at all while other’s thought they were great.
You need to get the Malaysian made model It was very good. U must have had a remainder China made one. Too bad. Send back and request the good one. I have a Gibson 68 hummingbird and I have played the epi Malaysia one and I like it too. Especially at that price!
I agree with you, Michael - I'd send it back. $800 is not a small amount of $$$, as far as I'm concerned. I have always bought directly from Epiphone (several times) and always have been satisfied with what they sent me. It's worth the minimal extra cost, IMHO. Good luck - hope you get a good model of this beautiful acoustic - if you buy it again.
What a heart sinking moment. Sadly the good Chinese made guitars are not much cheaper than Gibsons or Fenders. I am talking about Eastmans and Shijie. They are exceptional. EART are trying but still use cheap electrics. So I am told.
So they did take the Chinese model back and set me an endonesian model they said it's luck of the drawl and I obviously got lucky by getting the Indonesian model. World of difference so much better than the Chinese model not even comparable.
![Epiphone Factory Tour in China [English Subtitles] - presented by Digimart](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LRczd_ZEf4E/mqdefault.jpg)
I’ve had mine almost a year and love it
Dude I just bought a china humming bird it's awsome plugged in. Great guitar I'm going to swap to bone pins
I've done a video with the older version of Masterbilt series where I compared China vs Indonesia and honestly the China sounded way better, louder and more like a vintage instrument... Lighter weight and just resonant
the China made is more light weight because it has less internal bracing than the Indo. made guitars
@@brentpalmer2577 It looks that it's more about the finishing laquer thickness weight... A better scalloped bracing ( lighter and thinner) would make also for a more resonating guitar top
Man I just bought one made in China mine is really nice .
Epiphone guitars rock ❤ .
Firstly, when you want to buy an instrument of a certain value, you go to a store, you try it, you look, you listen, you make your personal choice.
Second, is having the right country of origin more important than the qualities of the instrument itself?
Why would a guitar made in China be intrinsically bad compared to a guitar made in Indonesia, if you buy with your eyes closed?
Epiphone clearly indicates on its website that the characteristics of each instrument may change at any time without having to expressly notify it. These are the rules of the game.
Finally, why not save more and choose a guitar made in the USA, if provenance and authenticity are so important to you?
“Play Authentic!” said an enlightened man...
Cheers, from Brittany !
Chinese inspired by Gibson Hummingbirds are great! I'd ask the dude if he has anything in his house made in China, lol.
Gibson sends most of their guitars out with plastic saddles and nuts too...
You are correct
Just wondering if you tuned that China made one up and gave it a try. Their were three of them Strait music in Austin Texas 2 made in Indonesia and one in China . I have had three of the Indonesian and they all super sound and crafted. But the China made sounded better than the Indonesia this time at the store hands down by me and 4 other musicians . I guess they slip a rib-bi in with the pork chops every now and then . lol . Hollar back at me if you play Ed it . Thanks Jeff Clark out of Rockdale Texas
Hey Jeff thanks for the reply. Yes I did tune it up and it didn't sound bad at all. In fact I really couldn't tell the difference of the sound from the Indonesian model. I guess what turned me off the most about it was they lied to me and promised me it would be Indonesian made and the fact that I could tell that it had cheaper made material as far as the saddle and the nut. The finish was definitely different as well and to be honest it felt a little lighter than the Indonesian model. And on the sidewood on the inside there was no sidebracing whatsoever the Indonesian model is full of side bracing. They shouldn't be charging the same price as far as I'm concerned. But yes they do slip in a ribeye with the pork chops every now and then haha.
Yep ! I would have been tee- off too. They are most definitely built lighter. The Indonesia made is better craftsman ship. That price on the china should be less . But for strumming the hell out it at local bars the China made will work. The hummingbird ibg is the only one I really thought was way beyond it price. The j-45 and sj-200 didn’t impress me at all while other’s thought they were great.
I could not agree more the J45 and the JS200 did not impress me whatsoever not even close.
Yeah, I ended up with a Chinese IBG Hummingbird. It's a far cry from the Indonesian made! Epiphone is ripping us off!
Feel sorry for the guys at the Indonesian factory. Did too good a job so production was switched to China.
You need to get the Malaysian made model
It was very good. U must have had a remainder China made one. Too bad. Send back and request the good one. I have a Gibson 68 hummingbird and I have played the epi Malaysia one and I like it too. Especially at that price!
I agree with you, Michael - I'd send it back. $800 is not a small amount of $$$, as far as I'm concerned. I have always bought directly from Epiphone (several times) and always have been satisfied with what they sent me. It's worth the minimal extra cost, IMHO. Good luck - hope you get a good model of this beautiful acoustic - if you buy it again.
I got a new one and it is Indonesian made they took the Chinese one back.
Glad to hear it - enjoy! @@Terrancem4538
They are inspired by Indonesia.
I just made an updated video if you guys want to go check it out
3:36 seconds of a 5:37 second video....just to unbox the guitar.
What a heart sinking moment. Sadly the good Chinese made guitars are not much cheaper than Gibsons or Fenders. I am talking about Eastmans and Shijie. They are exceptional. EART are trying but still use cheap electrics. So I am told.
So they did take the Chinese model back and set me an endonesian model they said it's luck of the drawl and I obviously got lucky by getting the Indonesian model. World of difference so much better than the Chinese model not even comparable.
Wait a $300.00 guitar is Shite?
What's $300?
If its built in Indonesia all the inspired by Gibson models will have the 5th and 6th digits of the serial number being 32, top tip.
It’s not 32. It’s 23.