Epiphone Century

[jads57]

Actually some of us actually improve with age like the real deal Epiphones, LOL!

[neatomic]

haha..

but the old epi needs a neck reset, new binding, top cracks fixed and tuners replaced

= hip replacement, prostate check, arthritis meds and hearing aid

oh lord!


cheers

[Hammertone]

They are a stylistic nod to the notion of an archtop guitar.
They have pressed tops, like many old f-hole guitars made in the US as well as Germany.
These are more like schlaggitarren, as opposed to archtop guitars.
Nothing wrong with that.
Like schlaggitarren, they may provide accessibility to a whole bunch of folks who might become more interested in archtop guitars as a result. One never knows.
Here is a screen grab that suggests the level of "arch" to the top:

[neatomic]

so epiphone finally tries something to appeal to us jazz geezers (and hopefully newbies..ie. after us the deluge) and they get the malocchio before anyone has even played one!!??

tough crowd!!

better some more sg copies?

cheers

[50Hz]

Love the style but bummed about the pointless electronics. Still a positive sign for sure.

[Little Jay]

I find it encouraging that Epiphone is going back more and more to original specs (like correct 16th fret neck joint on the Casino, everything on the newest Sorento, etc.). Now they have to get the body shape and shape of the f-holes right on their 175 and I will be sold.....

[Little Jay]

And I think a big laminated not too expensive Epi archtop could be a good candidate to route in a P90 or CC pickup..... (I am very curious though about construction inside, especially if the heel block is solid wood or a big block of ply like I've seen in their Emperors.... I fear for the latter).

[jazzbow]

Egad, nooo. GAS......

[David B]

Some photos and specs of the Olympic model here: Epiphone Masterbilt Century Olympic Electric Guitar, Honeyburst

[Little Jay]

Some photos and specs of the Olympic model here: Epiphone Masterbilt Century Olympic Electric Guitar, Honeyburst

That link directs me to the homepage of zZounds and even when I search I don't find anything about the Century Olympic?

[Little Jay]

A bit off topic, but I stumbled upon this nice site about Epiphone archtops: | Acoustic American jazz guitars out of the Golden Era ? preserved in the Netherlands.

[David B]

That link directs me to the homepage of zZounds and even when I search I don't find anything about the Century Olympic?

Looks like it's been taken down. From memory, the Olympic model has a laminated mahogany back and sides, 25.5" scale and is $599.

[campusfive]

The video was informative, although the presenter suggests that the viewer refer to their website for further information, yet nothing is up yet concerning these new guitars. I was somewhat disappointed that the Epiphone representative didn't have the details about the woods used for the back and sides and failed to mention whether the top was solid pressed or carved.

Well, I almost expect that anytime someone says "solid top" in an archtop, they are obfuscating, and deliberately not calling it a "carved top."

[lawson-stone]

Well, I almost expect that anytime someone says "solid top" in an archtop, they are obfuscating, and deliberately not calling it a "carved top."

For sure, if the top is carved, these days, I expect they will trumpet that from the housetops. If they don't say "carved" I assume solid-formed. If they don't say "solid" I assume laminated, for which "select spruce" seems to be the favorite euphemism.

[destinytot]

Masterbilt Century De Luxe Classic? "That'll do," I think.
http://www.epiphone.com/MBCentury

It calls for pragmatism - it's perhaps best restricted to certain applications - but I think I can work with it.

I see an opportunity; time to ward off perfectionism.

[jazzbow]

'Solid top'...

Recent video

[neatomic]

solid spruce tops, laminated flame mable bodies, ebony fretboard and bone nut...

cheers

[Rob MacKillop]

Can't wait to try one. The price is low, so we shouldn't expect a high-grade instrument. Rather, it should be a good working musician's gigging guitar.

[Bluedawg]

They are a stylistic nod to the notion of an archtop guitar.
They have pressed tops, like many old f-hole guitars made in the US as well as Germany.
These are more like schlaggitarren, as opposed to archtop guitars.
Nothing wrong with that.
Like schlaggitarren, they may provide accessibility to a whole bunch of folks who might become more interested in archtop guitars as a result. One never knows.
Here is a screen grab that suggests the level of "arch" to the top:

Wie heisen Sie Schlaggitarren auf Englisch, bitte?

I'm thinking Schlagzeuger ... or drummer .... and coming up with "beater guitar" ... LOL

These look nice ... wonder if any of them will be in the 18 inch range?

[destinytot]

Wie heisen Sie Schlaggitarren auf Englisch, bitte?

I'm thinking Schlagzeuger ... or drummer .... and coming up with "beater guitar" ... LOL

These look nice ... wonder if any of them will be in the 18 inch range?

Genau

[neatomic]

Epiphone Masterbilt® De Luxe™ Classic Acoustic/Electric Guitar Specifications :
Finish: Aged Gloss
Hardware: Aged Nickel
Top: Solid Spruce; Longitudinal Bracing
Body: Laminated Flame Maple
Body Dimensions:
Lower Bout = 17"
Upper Bout = 12.6"
Waist = 10.25"
Body Length = 21"

Neck: 5-pc Laminated; Hard Maple/Mahogany
Neck Profile: Rounded "C" shape
Preamp: eSonic™ HD (High Definition)
Controls: Master Volume & Master EQ



cheers

[Little Jay]

Nice! I would still be tempted to slam a PU on it....

[Chazmo]

It's a good thing they are not available until August. That gives me some time to think up how I can explain to my wife that we really need another guitar.

I have a 1951 Zenith already, so it's probably the 17" Deluxe for me. F holes or round hole? Natural or sunburst?

[destinytot]

Regular tuning, strumming all the way - through an acoustic amp (pretty sure I could get away with flats).

[dcharles]

Really sad to see the current Epiphone putting out this cheap asian stuff using the names of their classic 30s to 50s archtops... Kind of diminishes the standing of the vintage stuff. If I ever get an old Triumph I'll have to differentiate and make clear to people its not one of those cheap new ones!

Makes me seriously consider getting an old Gibson L-7 instead.