Epiphone EL-00

[Sandro]

Epiphone EL-00

Has anybody tried one ?
I have GAS for a small bluesy guitar, but unfortunately no money for a Gibson Robert Johnson, nor for a Larrivee P.
I could have this Epi for 230€.
Of course I don't expect it can keep up with a Gibson, but I'd like to know how it is (no shop nearby has it for me to try).

[norton]

I've been wondering about that one myself.  I've tried most of the L-00 versions - cheap and high $ -  including Gibson's own re-issue.  None match the vintage originals, but I've been just as satisfied with the more modestly priced models.   Can't help on the Epi, but if you can find one, Johnson made a 535 that was very inexpensive - got mine for $80 on eBay - and while it's not a jaw-dropping guitar, I'm every bit as satisfied with it as most of the other copies.  Good luck!

[Danny]

    I just bought a Recording King ROS-06 that has excellent tone and a very decent build for $250 U.S.
I am extremely happy with it for the price. This Epi looks to be a similar build as far as materials so I would give it a try.

   I was able to play mine first. Which sold me on it immediately. I would not have blindly ordered one off the internet though.


One other note. Having owned Gibson's and played these Epi's I have found some of them to sound better than the Gibby's. I am not just saying that casually. I went and played the J-45's being produced a year or so ago and found them stifled. The Epi "Masterbilt series" in the same store, which cost a fraction of the J-45 were richer sounding by far to me.
     That is not saying that Gibson isn't making some fine guitars, because they definitely are.

[Queequeg]

I played one a while back and was very favorably impressed. The trouble with the one I played was that it had been dropped and there was a hole punched in the bottom of it near the endpin. And I agree with Danny re Gibson vs Epiphone.
I thin it's a shame what has happened to Gibson over the past several years.

[Sandro]

Thanks guys !  I should give it a try. I think you cannot go much wrong with 230€   

I even saw this one, very interesting at first, but looking on Washburn page, I understood it has a laminated top.