Semi hollow body guitars

[jzucker]

What kind of pickups was Epiphone using back then? I do know the older, Korean made Epi's are pretty damn nice guitars for the money.

they were paf copies. I played an '80s epi sheraton in guitar center a few weeks ago. It had a 3pc maple neck and ebony board which was rock solid. Sounded great for jazz. They wanted $375 for it. I should have bought it.

[lpdeluxe]

I'm sure there are nice sounding Epiphones out there. I am a little skeptical about the assertion that "Epiphones are better jazz guitars than Gibsons." My 335 is a gem; my Sheraton was far from a gem. Guitars of the same make and model, and just not low end instruments, can differ widely. I have two Fender Standard Precision basses. Each one has had a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickup and Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flat strings installed. One sounds better than any other bass I've ever played. The other one is so-so. These are two bass guitars made within a few months of each other in the same factory using the same materials, and, you'll note, both are solid bodied, which minimizes the effect of the timber. Blanket statements about guitars rarely apply.

[jzucker]

Blanket statements about guitars rarely apply.

i agree but isn't that exactly what you're saying in expressing that epiphones are lower quality and tone?

[thenoviceguitarist]

I'm a 335 owner, but I think Gibson puts out just as many dogs as Epi or some of the less expensive lines-especially in recent years. I think that sort of inconsistency is relevant for a lot of the larger manufacturers. Both Epi and Gibson can put out good stuff. Chances are if you find a good one (a gem) then you either got lucky or you knew what you were doing/ (or looking for) when you demo'd the guitar.

[EinarG]

I also have an old Ibanez AS-200, mine is from 1980.
I've got it strung up roundwounded 13s. FAT tone, with great clarity.
It can't replace my archtop guitars, but I prefer it for jazz because of the piano like sustain and bell like tones.
It's my main gigging guitar, and I use it for fat vintage jazz tones, and modern stuff.

[lpdeluxe]

i agree but isn't that exactly what you're saying in expressing that epiphones are lower quality and tone?

No, I said that the Epiphones I had were.

[peejay]

I agree that quality of the same model guitars varies enormously. I recently tried a new Epi Sheraton II in a local guitar shop and it isn't in the same league either build or tone wise as my 2001 Samick built Epi Sheraton II. Fantastic guitar for the money I (or rather my wife) paid for it back then.

[joshatatlasstands]

I agree there! The new Sheraton 2 coming out of China (I think out of China) is not near as nice as the older ones from about 10 years ago made in Korea and prior places.