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  #1  
Old 02-01-2009, 12:28 PM
BustedLimb BustedLimb is offline
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Default Masterbilt vs Hummingbird

Does anyone have experience with both Epiphone Masterbilt and Epiphone Hummingbird? I have played a Hummingbird but have not been able to find a Masterbilt to play (live in the middle of nowhere) and I want to know if it is worth the extra few hundred to get a Masterbilt (EF or AJ probably).

I am looking for a new guitar and $500 (because Im a college student) is about as much as I am willing to spend on one at this time. I have searched through a lot of "Best guitar for $500" threads on this forum already, and my main ideas are these:

Epiphone Masterbilt
Taylor 110/114/Big Baby
Martin DX1
Guild GAD 30
Seagull
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  #2  
Old 02-01-2009, 12:46 PM
Roger65 Roger65 is offline
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My two choices in that price range would be the Epiphone Masterbilt AJ500M if you like a loud bassy sound, or the Stanford PSD-21 if you like a sweet and shimmery sound.

Both guitars have an "expensive" sound that bely their price point.
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Old 02-01-2009, 01:15 PM
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stratokatsu stratokatsu is offline
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Personally, anything in the Masterbilt line would be preferable to the regular acoustic line. My experience with the Epi Hummingbird is that is a cheap imitation of a great Gibson older brother. The Epi simply has a cheap generic tone where the Masterbilt line is really quite special.
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Old 02-01-2009, 02:34 PM
mellowman mellowman is offline
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I'd say the Masterbuilt definitely. That AJ500M is really nice.
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Old 02-01-2009, 02:49 PM
Tony Burns Tony Burns is offline
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The Masterbuilt - its alot better guiter - the humingbird copy is OK -the GC in Buffalo had three of them -one was decent the other two were mediocre.
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Old 02-01-2009, 02:53 PM
surfoxy surfoxy is offline
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Quite honestly, and coming from a guy who likes Gibsons quite a bit, I find the Masterbilts better in many cases than regular Gibsons, let alone Epi's.

I think they're really good guitars. Very different tone, but very good.
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Old 02-01-2009, 03:10 PM
edman edman is offline
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Epi Hummingbird = all laminate guitar.

Epi Masterbilt = all solid wood guitar.

Masterbilt beats the Hummingbird hands down in every aspect.
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Old 02-01-2009, 03:17 PM
JustPlayIt JustPlayIt is offline
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I agree, the Masterbilt is much better. The bass notes on that guitar haunted me for days.
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Old 02-01-2009, 03:19 PM
NateDog16 NateDog16 is offline
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Man, I wish they had a Masterbuilt Hummingbird.

That would be somethin' else.
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Old 02-01-2009, 03:22 PM
yanks4life yanks4life is offline
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get a taylor 110 im telling you they sound amazing. try one before you by the gibson please!
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Old 02-01-2009, 03:33 PM
L20A L20A is offline
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I have been very unimpressed with the Epiphone Hummingbirds.
Masterbilts, on the other hand are much better guitars but many of them need to have a set up before they are playable.

There are many other choices out there, unless you are set on an Epiphone.
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Old 02-01-2009, 04:14 PM
woodruff woodruff is offline
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hey busted:

well, i dont know much about the epi masterbuilts or the epi hbirds. all i know is that i had a gibson h-bird for a while, a great simple hog dread. but both the blueridge BR40(yes the lammy) and the BR140 put my gibby to shame. i know, absurd notion but i'd have not believed it till i heard it myself.

so, if you are looking for a hog dread, and you like a slim neck, consider blueridge before epi....imho.
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  #13  
Old 02-01-2009, 04:57 PM
BustedLimb BustedLimb is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L20A View Post
I have been very unimpressed with the Epiphone Hummingbirds.
Masterbilts, on the other hand are much better guitars but many of them need to have a set up before they are playable.

There are many other choices out there, unless you are set on an Epiphone.
What do you mean by "a set up"? Action changes or something?

Quote:
Originally Posted by edman View Post
Epi Hummingbird = all laminate guitar.

Epi Masterbilt = all solid wood guitar.

Masterbilt beats the Hummingbird hands down in every aspect.
I have been playing a solid top hummingbird. I duno about the sides and back though.
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Old 02-01-2009, 07:59 PM
TwoMartinMan TwoMartinMan is offline
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Go with the Masterbuilt. Great guitars for the money.
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  #15  
Old 02-01-2009, 10:05 PM
L20A L20A is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BustedLimb View Post
What do you mean by "a set up"? Action changes or something?



I have been playing a solid top hummingbird. I duno about the sides and back though.
A set up will check and adjust for intonation, string height [action] and neck relief.

Most of the Masterbilts that I have tried to play needed to have this done to them.
When this is done, the guitar will play and sound it's best.

A good Mom and Pop shop will include this in the sale.
Guitar Center will not!
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