Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean)

Woderwick · 08-16-2012, 04:55 AM

HI.

This may have been covered. I hear the rumour mill churning the other day, basically a belief that there are quality variations from one Epi Korean factory to another.

Before we go any further I am only asking opinions, I please don't post negatives that might be construed as libellous and troll bait.

I'll kick off with my 2 SGs I have from Unsung. Es 1275 and SG400 from 2002-3. Very nicely put together and no issues, excellent VFM.

I am currently looking at some '90s Semis from the Samick Plant, can any one contribute with personal experiences?

Which leaves Pearless and Saien, any one have anything from there?

Thanks

Rod

paruwi · 08-16-2012, 05:24 AM

I prefer to rate the guitar..............not the factory

but that's just me

BTW opinions could be negative, too

Woderwick · 08-16-2012, 06:28 AM

I agree, 100%. Just trying to save some travelling time.

redcoats1976 · 08-16-2012, 05:48 PM

unsung is good.had a samick hollow body that was very well put together,but cant comment on the other two plants.

56GT · 08-16-2012, 09:28 PM

my Chinese is better than my Koreans

AngryHatter · 08-16-2012, 09:41 PM

Only buy an Epi made on a Tuesday, otherwise you 're screwed.

GammyBird · 08-16-2012, 10:04 PM

The factory with the best record for producing great guitars over the years is the Gujigen Gakki guitar factory...

AngryHatter · 08-16-2012, 10:13 PM

Only if Tetsuo makes your axe...Toyo doesn't know what he's doing.

SJJMcGhee · 08-17-2012, 06:52 PM

Peerless' own guitars are pretty awesome for the money, and believe they make gretsches now, as well as their own line of gretsch design guitars. So they're own stuff is good, don't see why their Epi's wouldn't be.

LesLuvva · 08-17-2012, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woderwick

HI.

This may have been covered. Thanks

Rod

Yup. Search the Epiphone LP threads.

mad dog · 08-18-2012, 09:07 AM

IMO, this factory thing is quite a valid point to consider. It certainly is with MIJ instruments. In my experience, with MIK as well. I've owned one Samick made instrument, purchased it after lusting after my buddy's Samick made Epiphone Sheraton, from '90. His Sheraton was far ahead of any other Epi Sheraton I tried. The Samick SAT650 I got was lightweight, balanced, a wonderful feeling guitar for real short money.

It's the Peerless-built Epis I know best. Got three of them, still own two. An ES-295, and a '94 Casino. Tried one other Epi Casino made by Peerless also. Both those casinos were superior to every other MIK, and every MIC, Casino I've tried. I've also owned two other Peerless made guitars, a Wizard, and one of the earliest run Gretsch 5120s. (That 5120 beats every MIK and MIC Gretsch I've tried ... should never have let it go.)

And speaking of MIK - whoever made the early run Reverend Jetstream 390 guitars (chambered, spruce top solid with 3 P-90s), I want to get something else from that factory too.
Lots of internet "wisdom" floating around, so of course think what you like. I'm just telling you my experience.

MD

Woderwick · 08-18-2012, 04:52 PM

Thanks all. Collected an'04 Unsung Joe Pass, must have been Tetsuo on Tuesday afternoon job,it is flawless. £250 with case. Impressed.

Thumpalumpacus · 08-18-2012, 05:03 PM

My 89 SG was Samick-made. Great guitar.

08-16-2012, 04:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Woderwick Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mid Sussex UK Posts: 239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) HI. This may have been covered. I hear the rumour mill churning the other day, basically a belief that there are quality variations from one Epi Korean factory to another. Before we go any further I am only asking opinions, I please don't post negatives that might be construed as libellous and troll bait. I'll kick off with my 2 SGs I have from Unsung. Es 1275 and SG400 from 2002-3. Very nicely put together and no issues, excellent VFM. I am currently looking at some '90s Semis from the Samick Plant, can any one contribute with personal experiences? Which leaves Pearless and Saien, any one have anything from there? Thanks Rod __________________ 78MIJYam SG500 79USA Strat 79MIJ SG400 79MIJ SG1000 81MIJ Ibanez AS200 81MIJ SG400 81Home Made LP 89 MSG Image 91MIM Tele 96MIT Yam FG441s acoustic 96MIT Yam FG441s-12 98MIJ SG2000 00MIJ SG3000 00MIK Epi cherry SG 03MIJ SG700 04MIK Epi Es1275 Double Neck Cherry 04MIK Epi Joe Pass 07Nat Delphi 08Nat 0 14 fret 09MIJ Takemine EF261 10MI? Vintage Lemon Drop BK PG Blues pups. 10USA Custom Shop ES 175 11USA Custom Shop VOS 60s LP 11USA LP Studio '60s tribute 12 Cremona

08-16-2012, 05:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
paruwi V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 5,939 Thanks: 174 Thanked 92 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) I prefer to rate the guitar..............not the factory but that's just me BTW opinions could be negative, too Thumpalumpacus, RaSTuS26 and IanMak3103 like this. __________________ PeteR I don't have any reason to lie to you - I just do it for fun Epiphone -B.B.King Lucille [06 MiK] -NightHawk RI Cst [10-MiI] -LesPaul Ultra II [08-MiK] -LesPaul Special DC [94-MiK] -LesPaul Ukulele [12-MiI] -DR 200 CE [07-MiC] Gibson -Midtown Custom [11-MiA] BlackHeart -Handsome Devil Combo VOX -ToneLab LE -DA-5

08-16-2012, 06:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Woderwick Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mid Sussex UK Posts: 239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) I agree, 100%. Just trying to save some travelling time. __________________ 78MIJYam SG500 79USA Strat 79MIJ SG400 79MIJ SG1000 81MIJ Ibanez AS200 81MIJ SG400 81Home Made LP 89 MSG Image 91MIM Tele 96MIT Yam FG441s acoustic 96MIT Yam FG441s-12 98MIJ SG2000 00MIJ SG3000 00MIK Epi cherry SG 03MIJ SG700 04MIK Epi Es1275 Double Neck Cherry 04MIK Epi Joe Pass 07Nat Delphi 08Nat 0 14 fret 09MIJ Takemine EF261 10MI? Vintage Lemon Drop BK PG Blues pups. 10USA Custom Shop ES 175 11USA Custom Shop VOS 60s LP 11USA LP Studio '60s tribute 12 Cremona

08-16-2012, 05:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
redcoats1976 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,404 Thanks: 129 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) unsung is good.had a samick hollow body that was very well put together,but cant comment on the other two plants.

08-16-2012, 09:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
56GT Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,103 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) my Chinese is better than my Koreans

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08-16-2012, 09:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
AngryHatter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 13,010 Thanks: 35 Thanked 106 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) Only buy an Epi made on a Tuesday, otherwise you 're screwed. Thumpalumpacus likes this.

08-16-2012, 10:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
GammyBird Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 16,644 Thanks: 378 Thanked 175 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) The factory with the best record for producing great guitars over the years is the Gujigen Gakki guitar factory...

08-16-2012, 10:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
AngryHatter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 13,010 Thanks: 35 Thanked 106 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) Only if Tetsuo makes your axe...Toyo doesn't know what he's doing.

08-17-2012, 06:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
SJJMcGhee Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 984 Thanks: 10 Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) Peerless' own guitars are pretty awesome for the money, and believe they make gretsches now, as well as their own line of gretsch design guitars. So they're own stuff is good, don't see why their Epi's wouldn't be. __________________ Our house is a sanctuary for neglected instruments

08-18-2012, 09:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
mad dog Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 187 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) IMO, this factory thing is quite a valid point to consider. It certainly is with MIJ instruments. In my experience, with MIK as well. I've owned one Samick made instrument, purchased it after lusting after my buddy's Samick made Epiphone Sheraton, from '90. His Sheraton was far ahead of any other Epi Sheraton I tried. The Samick SAT650 I got was lightweight, balanced, a wonderful feeling guitar for real short money. It's the Peerless-built Epis I know best. Got three of them, still own two. An ES-295, and a '94 Casino. Tried one other Epi Casino made by Peerless also. Both those casinos were superior to every other MIK, and every MIC, Casino I've tried. I've also owned two other Peerless made guitars, a Wizard, and one of the earliest run Gretsch 5120s. (That 5120 beats every MIK and MIC Gretsch I've tried ... should never have let it go.) And speaking of MIK - whoever made the early run Reverend Jetstream 390 guitars (chambered, spruce top solid with 3 P-90s), I want to get something else from that factory too. Lots of internet "wisdom" floating around, so of course think what you like. I'm just telling you my experience. MD

08-18-2012, 04:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
Woderwick Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mid Sussex UK Posts: 239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) Thanks all. Collected an'04 Unsung Joe Pass, must have been Tetsuo on Tuesday afternoon job,it is flawless. £250 with case. Impressed. AngryHatter likes this. __________________ 78MIJYam SG500 79USA Strat 79MIJ SG400 79MIJ SG1000 81MIJ Ibanez AS200 81MIJ SG400 81Home Made LP 89 MSG Image 91MIM Tele 96MIT Yam FG441s acoustic 96MIT Yam FG441s-12 98MIJ SG2000 00MIJ SG3000 00MIK Epi cherry SG 03MIJ SG700 04MIK Epi Es1275 Double Neck Cherry 04MIK Epi Joe Pass 07Nat Delphi 08Nat 0 14 fret 09MIJ Takemine EF261 10MI? Vintage Lemon Drop BK PG Blues pups. 10USA Custom Shop ES 175 11USA Custom Shop VOS 60s LP 11USA LP Studio '60s tribute 12 Cremona

08-18-2012, 05:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
Thumpalumpacus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hill Country Posts: 54,276 Thanks: 1,205 Thanked 687 Times in 79 Posts	Re: Is there a "best" Epi factory (Korean) My 89 SG was Samick-made. Great guitar. __________________ _____________________________________________ My Soundcloud

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