Tech: guitars

Subject: Tech: guitars
From: mississippi john
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 04:17 PM

can anybody out there help with any info on the Epiphone EL00 & the Epiphone Bluesmaster guitars?
prices & availability in the UK on both guitars & how they compare with each other with regards to finger picking blues.

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 04:49 PM

'Tech' threads are supposed to be about computers.

This isn't really that sort of question, is it?

Do not pass "Go" Do not collect £200

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 07:47 PM

Tech questions are supposed to be about anything technical concerning music, or so I thought? Certainly nowt to do with monopoly.( though I admit that bluesriff's query isn't all that technical)

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars
From: GUEST,bik1933[at]hotmail.com
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 09:04 AM

I owned a Blues Master recently, so I can tell you about it and suggest one or two alternatives. The Blues Master is a strong, heavily-braced little guitar, very sturdy and very pretty. Sound-wise it's what you'd expect from such a heavily-braced small guitar -- responsive but not hugely sophisticated. I had the plastic components replaced with bone, and the sound opened up nicely. But the Blues Master is going for about $700 on eBay in the U.S. now, and I know that there are better blues finerpicking guitars to be had for that price. What you do get with the Blues Master is a distinctive look (in the black or sunburst models) and the widest neck I've ever had on a guitar, a hair or two over 1.75 inches. With the very flat fretboard, this is almost exclusively a fingerpicker. Not a huge number were made, maybe 750 in all, so the price reflects their scarcity and gradually growing cult status -- not necessarily their sound. I bought a $150 Yamaha FG-75 off eBay, and in some ways it's a better-sounding small guitar. If I were you I'd try the Washburn 305 series parlours, or look for a used Larivee parlour (from pre 2004, when they fancified them and raised the price to $1,000), or look to the Epiphone Masterbilt line (although it doesn't have anything as small as a Blues Master yet). These are all alternatives that may get you as much guitar or more for less money. For shits and grins, also strum a used Gibson L-00, though they're more expensive. The Epi EL-00 is supposed to have a very narrow neck, so beware.

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars
From: mississippi john
Date: 28 Oct 05 - 01:05 PM

Hi bik1933,
thanks for your info & advice.
it looks as though the blues master is out, i don't want a guitar with a wide neck - no good if you have short fingers.
i've since found that i can get a new EL00 from USA in Jan 2006.
for $345 ( Gibson / Epiphone have a offer on ). not sure about the neck size - will check it out.
as regards to the other makes you mentioned, worth looking into.

thanks.

nico

Subject: EL-00
From: GUEST,London
Date: 14 Nov 05 - 07:06 PM

Hey, If you still care I own an Epiphone EL-00 and love it! I have seen and played the bluesmaster and it is as "GUEST,bik1933" (above) described it, however I would say the sound, whilst limited, is more special than he suggests.

My EL-00 is somwhere between the bluesmaster and a dreadnought; it has body size somewhere between the two and has a neck more akin to a steel string dreadnought but with a slightly wider nut. Be aware the scale is full lenght, not the shorter scale the epiphone website would suggest.

Bottom line: I love this guitar. Playing mostly fingerstyle blues with drone bass lines it sounds awsome for such a relatively inexpensive guitar, but it's dimensions make it sing whatever kind of music I play. The neck playes great and the little body nestles in my lap perfectly. NB. If yours comes with the same strings mine did change them quick!

Don't get me wrong this guitar is not the be all and end all but if 350 bucks is the price range your looking at I doubt any other new guitar will sing the blues like this one. In fact could you post where you are getting yours from incase somthing horrible happens to mine. Cheers.

P.S. Washburn do make great parlour guitars (as the other dude said)

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars
From: GUEST,warren
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 07:02 AM

I have an Epiphone ElOO and love it. The scale by the way is 24 3/4. People that say it is 25 or 25 1/2 do not know how to measure scale length I guess. But it is an awesome beautiful looking and sounding guitar. I had a Larivee parlor and would not trade for 2 Larivees. The ELOO is a very well made and sweet sounding guitar with a fantastic sunburst finish. I love it.

Subject: EL-00 Bracing
From: GUEST,L.A. Jones
Date: 04 May 10 - 10:15 PM

Does anyone know what kind of bracing is in the EL-00... Ladder or X?

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 May 10 - 06:28 AM

Hagstrom H-22s sometimes turn up on ebay. Guy Davis used to play one until recently.