Epiphone SG G400 China with neck binding

[elche]

Hi, I'm looking for an SG with neck binding after having seen the Barcham MIK (and some other ones here and there...): I've found a 2009 Vintage Cherry that seems to be MIC (according to TRC shape).
It does have a nice neck binding and it comes in the matte finish that I prefer.
It sells for 180 euro (about 230 USD) including a hard case.

Is it common to find a MIC SG with neck binding?

Thanks

EDIT: I've found these pictures (http://www.sheltonsguitars.com/2008/...n-8-13-08.html), I was convinced that all MIK's had the "GIBSON" TRC while this one looks exactly like the one I've found (except for the color). Is this the same quality that Barcham claims for his one?

[purevilpleasure]

Hate to say it...but no one will be able to say until you have your hands on it and see how it plays....you have good and bad...each one is different from one to the other. I'm sure it will be just as good as any other Epi.

[NovaSDF]

I have a made in China g-400 and it's really not a bad little guitar, especially for the price. I like to custom mod guitars, so the Epi was the way to go. Installed CTS pots, PIO caps, custom pickups. Nice sounding guitar.

The only issue (common with most Epis) is that the frets may not be as perfectly level as you would like. I found that I was able to get a pretty low action height of around 4/64 with some stiffer strings (Dunlop Heavy Core .10's) but had to spend some time tweaking the truss rod and bridge. No buzz, which is good.

I'm not a fan of the Epi ABR-1 bridge, but you can replace it with a Gotoh for about $30 (US).

When you consider the cost of the guitar + the cost of paying someone to level the frets (unless you can do it yourself), you're still saving a lot of money vs. a Gibson for a very well built little guitar.

I love mine. (Well, I do now.)

[Barcham]

The one in the pictures is a 2005 made in Korea. Nothing to worry about with the TRC. They vary from year to year and factory to factory. My vintage is Saein made in 2004 and is marked SG on the TRC. My friend's is a 2003 Unsung and is marked Gibson I think. So it's nothing to worry about. If you found one that MiC, I'd expect it to be of similar or equal quality and a 2009 would be one of the last ones ever made.

That's a great price by the way, especially with a hard case in the deal. These are great guitars, in my opinion the best SGs Epiphone has ever made other than Elitist and other MiJ models. For that price I'd jump on it! You definitely won't regret it.

[vonserke]

Are you sure that it's MIC? AFAIK the MICs don't come with neck binding! Maybe you should find more info about this guitar (serial number, photos)! The TRC as Barcham said varies! Mine is a 2006 MIK and have the SG TRC like Barcham's but I have seen the gibson also but in older models (pre 2004 I think)! You can find info here SG - The Unofficial Epiphone Wiki about this model! If it is a MIK Vintage G400, this price is a steal, go for it!

[vonserke]

Originally Posted by Barcham

These are great guitars, in my opinion the best SGs Epiphone has ever made other than Elitist and other MiJ models. For that price I'd jump on it! You definitely won't regret it.

The neck and fingerboard are awesome! Also you can recognize the MICs from the veneer top and back, the MIK Vintage G400s don't have!

This is the MIC



This is the MIK


Also some info here Epiphone Worn G-400 Vintage. Thoughts, reviews, experience?
I hope that I helped!

[Barcham]

Vonserke is correct, I believe. Now that I've had time to give it some thought, I don't recall ever seeing a vintage G-400 with the bound neck that was MiC. All the ones I've seen were made in Korea and I've never seen one dated newer than 2005, maybe 2006.
Another important difference between the earlier Vintage series, besides no veneer and the binding, and the newer faded models is that they have a one piece neck. I believe it's the only Epi to have a one piece neck apart from MiJ guitars.

[elche]

Originally Posted by vonserke

Are you sure that it's MIC? AFAIK the MICs don't come with neck binding! Maybe you should find more info about this guitar (serial number, photos)! The TRC as Barcham said varies! Mine is a 2006 MIK and have the SG TRC like Barcham's but I have seen the gibson also but in older models (pre 2004 I think)! You can find info here SG - The Unofficial Epiphone Wiki about this model! If it is a MIK Vintage G400, this price is a steal, go for it!

Sorry about the confusion, I was sure it was a MIC since the seller told me the guitar is from 2009 and also because I believed that the TRC on MIK was the one with the two lower screws a little bit higher and the GIBSON engraving, as on MIK LP's.

Now that I've learned (thanks MLP...) that the TRC can be different and noted the differences in grain I'm quite sure it's a MIK, just waiting for a SN picture and then I think I'll go for it!!!

Thanks all for the precious infos, I'll let you know!

[elche]

Just another question: I've read in the specs for the MiK Vintage "USA designed pickups", are they different from the ones found in MiC?

[Barcham]

I wish I could help you regarding the pickups but mine had Seymour Duncans installed when I got her. My friend's has the stock pups and has no complaints about them at all. Maybe someone else could fill in some more details about the stock pups.

Here's the original Epiphone news release on this model.

Epiphone - Vintage-G-400--Why-Is-This-Guitar-Shaking-Up-The-Industry-

[vonserke]

The stock pups are good (for my ears), and they have higher output than the later G400 pups (as far as I can tell). The ''USA designed'' means nothing to me, all the Epi pups are USA designed! So it's up to you to decide if the pups are good or need replacement! When you receive some photos please post them, It will be helpful! Good luck my friend!

[elche]

UPDATE:
I've received some more pictures, I'm now sure it's the MiK Vintage Cherry I'm looking for!!!

It's a 2006 Unsung (right?), it has some small wear signs (small dents on the headstock, some oxidation on pups screws and a tuner to be replaced) but nothing too serious, I'm trying to get it for 170 € including a nice hard case and some accessories.





What do you think?

[vonserke]

wtf? It's the same factory, year, month and color like mine! Grab it elche! It's April 2006 Unsung Korea

Here is mine the day that I bought it, now has different tuners

[MrGansburg]

Originally Posted by elche

UPDATE:
I've received some more pictures, I'm now sure it's the MiK Vintage Cherry I'm looking for. It's a 2006 Unsung (right?),

€170 for this and a HSC is a great price. Good luck with it.

[paruwi]

Originally Posted by huahuapack

The one in the pictures is a 2005 made in Korea.
[url]http: //w w w.couponsavings.sh!t/ewa/girl.jpg

[url]http: //w w w.couponsavings.sh!t/for/girl2.jpg

Yeah, and you're a fvcking dumba$$ spammer......