Little help needed.

[pawpek]

Hey guys, my turn to ask a few dumb ass questions

Ok after the loss of the score of the Epi MIC custom shop LTD edition Desert burst....

I have been looking around for another Epi. I have seen a cherry standard plain top with huge gash in the back for £350. Today I went into another shop, and found this....

Problem is there was no sticker on the back so I took a guess at the year and place of manufacture (got them both wrong, wondered if it was MIJ oct '90 number 0145) but looking at the guitar database I get...

Your guitar was made at the
Saein Plant, Korea
January 1999
Production Number: 0145

Well got part right lol.

Anyway The shop has it for sale for £275, and it is not in the best of conditions cosmetically, but it has been updated (I am thinking) with some SD pups and the pickguard removed, (but is included in the sale along with gig bag, guessing the last person wanted the Slash tone ) so I am wondering...

1) Is it worth that kind of money?

2) I'm guessing it's not a fake (but seeing as how it's second hand and not an authorised dealer I'm not 100% sure)

3) Do MIK have any probs to look out for? I took the wife in (yep bad idea she shot the guitar down along with a 1973 Gibson LP in red and a Gibson '79 in white which has aged to a nice cream colour but she did like this Burny RLG-55JP 2009 SBB £399 ) for a look, and she has told me to go down the PX route.

4) Also whilst I think about it the guitar is VERY light (I'm guessing about the same weight as a new Standard which I thought were chambered) which was part of the idea in getting it as the Westfield is a HELL of a lot heavier (well they stock them too and I managed to do a quick side by side and the neck is thinner and slimmer on a Westfield)

Thanks for any help guys.

 

[djwilbanks]

Not a fake.
Not a bad price, but not a steal.
MIK are considered to be the best Epis by some and the worst by others. Nothing specific to be on the look out for, just check it like you would any guitar.

What would I do?

Pass.

 

[pawpek]

Thanks for that, I was about 90% shure it wasn't a fake. I did see that some of the inlays had some filler around, which I know won't affect how it plays. Didn't manage to plug it in so I'm not too sure on the sound, but that is something I can do later. Besides I can always swap out the SD's for something else if needed. Maybe a bit of haggling may help instread of a PX. I'm still in 2 minds, as I would really love a Epi R9, but I'll see what they offer on my PX.

 

[djwilbanks]

I dunno, just seems beat up for the price. Better play like butter and sound like an angel.

I got my beat up honeyburst from a forum member on trade for a Dot. He wanted about 350 for it, which is what I paid for the Dot. It was a bit more trashed than that one though. I only traded for it because I wanted to do RMC1's dulling poly trick.

Which I did.

 

[RMC1]

I`ll throw another Spanner in the works.Buy the Burny

 

[djwilbanks]

I`ll throw another Spanner in the works.Buy the Burny

I was gonna suggest it, but it has no binding. and I like me some binding.

Hey, RMC1, did you know that your dulling poly trick also removes scratches and dings? Well... your trick coupled with me pressing down as hard as humanly possible on the sander....

 

[RMC1]

I knew it removed pretty deep scratches.Dings too huh,that`s a bonus

 

[djwilbanks]

I knew it removed pretty deep scratches.Dings too huh,that`s a bonus

Yep, my honeyburst used to look like someone played it with a butterknife. now it just looks old. Which is cool with me. I may fill the deeper dings with super glue and give it another go, but for now I'm happy.

I'm just glad I had the exact sander you used and the exact pads so I knew nothing would get screwed up.

 

[pawpek]

I dunno, just seems beat up for the price. Better play like butter and sound like an angel.

I got my beat up honeyburst from a forum member on trade for a Dot. He wanted about 350 for it, which is what I paid for the Dot. It was a bit more trashed than that one though. I only traded for it because I wanted to do RMC1's dulling poly trick.

Which I did.

Well I wouldn't say it played like butter, it wasn't bad. Think it would be something I would look deeper into and see. Sometimes it's nice to be armed with some info, as I can knock them down a bit for cash. But like I say I would LOVE an Epi R9, so I may just pass this over.

 

[RMC1]

You could always wait until the end of the Year and get the inside line on an Elitist that i`ve heard is going up for grabs

 

[djwilbanks]

Well I wouldn't say it played like butter, it wasn't bad. Think it would be something I would look deeper into and see. Sometimes it's nice to be armed with some info, as I can knock them down a bit for cash. But like I say I would LOVE an Epi R9, so I may just pass this over.

Don't settle. I did that once, sold all my Epis to buy a Gibson I had been drooling over. Two of them on eBay, one was brand new with a repaired headstock (broken during shipping) the other was brand new in excellent condition. Same model guitar. I bought the broken one to save 400 dollars.

I sold it a month later.... to this day I wish I had bought the other one. I would probably still have that guitar.

 

[djwilbanks]

One day I'll get another without a broken headstock....

:sigh:

 

[pawpek]

I`ll throw another Spanner in the works.Buy the Burny

Gee thanks way to confuse me

TBH I didn't play the Burny, but I did pick it up and quickly hold it, the neck did feel slimmer. I do preffer a thicker neck, but the guitar did look nicer. Hmm I'm not too fussed what it says on the headstock, so if the Burny plays better then the Epi then so be it.

Mind you the wife did come up with this idea, you give me the £399, and she will buy it for me

 

[RMC1]

Well considering that the Epi`s have now gone to around £440,and given Epi`s current non existent QC.I`d say the Burny was a much better prospect to be honest mate.

 

[pawpek]

You could always wait until the end of the Year and get the inside line on an Elitist that i`ve heard is going up for grabs

Ohhhh drools hmmm, "Jayne RMC has an Epi Elitist up for sale!" not sure what she said, but it sounded like as long as he comes over in his uniform???!!!!

 

[RMC1]

The Uniform`s no problem,you can tell Her that .The Elitist will be going up for significantly less than they are selling for at the moment,i`m not the kind of Guy to rip anyone off.

 

[pawpek]

Don't settle. I did that once, sold all my Epis to buy a Gibson I had been drooling over. Two of them on eBay, one was brand new with a repaired headstock (broken during shipping) the other was brand new in excellent condition. Same model guitar. I bought the broken one to save 400 dollars.

I sold it a month later.... to this day I wish I had bought the other one. I would probably still have that guitar.

Know what you mean, I can bide my time a little longer. I had this thought about what happened IF I brought the Epi custom shop LTD edition then 2 weeks later they have a 59 reissue in for a good price, I know I would be wearing it if I told the wife I wanted that guitar. One day I'll have to jump but I can wait.

 

[pawpek]

One day I'll get another without a broken headstock....

:sigh:

Nice. Hope you manage to score one soon.

 

[pawpek]

Well considering that the Epi`s have now gone to around £440,and given Epi`s current non existent QC.I`d say the Burny was a much better prospect to be honest mate.

I may have to examine a few Burny's. Sounds like Epi need to get their act together, esp now people want a good guitar but are stuck for cash. Mind you I suppose that some people will buy one because of the name on the headstock.

 

[pawpek]

The Uniform`s no problem,you can tell Her that .The Elitist will be going up for significantly less than they are selling for at the moment,i`m not the kind of Guy to rip anyone off.

She will be happy (wonder if she will give me the cash for the guitar??? )