NGD Epiphone AJ-45S w/pics

[P Thought]

Beautiful guitars. I'm a sucker for a sunburst! Do those have wide (1 3/4") nuts, as well as big necks? I'm a sucker for that, too.

[BB]

Thanks PT....I haven't measured the nut, but the specs I pulled off online say it's 1.68 in width. The neck is somewhat beefy. It's hard for me to say as I have pretty large hands and I'm more comfortable on a big neck...that's one of the reasons I was drawn to this one.

TJ, yes, $150.00.....Again, I had no idea what the guitar was worth, year it was made...anything. I was just floored by the tone and how well it played. I knew if I didn't get it, I would have to haul my well used arse kicking machine out of hte closet and put it to use! As far as the tuners, nothing written on back....just plain Jane Kluson style.

I haven't had it out of it's case in a week, so I just grabbed it and had a go....man, what a great acoustic guitar.....especially for the price.

Here is the info and specs I found online based on it's serial number. Mine does not have gold hardware however!

Epiphone AJ-45S
1998-2002
Sloped shoulder advanced jumbo body style
Solid spruce top
Mahogany back & sides
Body binding
Set mahogany neck
Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays
Rosewood headstock veneer with gold silk screened logo
Gold hardware
Tortoiseshell pickguard with metal "E" emblem
Epiphone "E" branded vintage-style tuners
24.75" scale
1.68" nut width

Your guitar was made at the Peerless Plant, Korea April 1998 Production Number: 0081
Peerless Korea Co., Ltd. is a Korean-Japanese joint venture company headquartered in South Korea and has been in the guitar-manufacturing industry since 1970. With the core expertise in guitar manufacturing initiated from Japan, Peerless has provided 2.9 million pieces of guitars in the worldwide market so far. Peerless had once manufactured 30,000 pieces of guitars per month in the past in order to meet the order quantity, however have gradually changed their focus from quantity quality. With this in mind they have cut down their manufacturing capacity to 2,000 pieces per month just to ensure the high quality of our products. Peerless produces guitars via OEM for brands such as Epiphone by Gibson, Alvarez, Hoyer and Gretsch by Fender. Note: While not explicitly stated it is believed that Peerless is part owned by Aria of Japan.

[rayban]

So if I've learned anything (I'm a beginner) about guitars, it's that when the description reads " solid spruce top, and mahogany back and sides" means that the back and sides are laminated, correct?
My point would be that it's very close to the "new" AJ220s which is much more readily available.....am I on the right track?

[Stubee]

Originally Posted by rayban

So if I've learned anything (I'm a beginner) about guitars, it's that when the description reads " solid spruce top, and mahogany back and sides" means that the back and sides are laminated, correct?
?

In nearly all cases IME you are correct.

[BB]

Yep Rayban... the 220 looks like a great option. Good luck on your search. Please post pics if you get one.

[BB]

I am just blown away by this guitar. It stood out above many others when I first played it and even though I wasn't looking for a guitar and could not really afford it, it kept speaking to me in such a way that I knew I had to get it. I justified the purchase by telling myself I'd play it for a while and flip it.

I've played the hell out of it the past two days and at the moment, I don't think I'll ever sell it. The whole package just seems to come together with this instrument. First off, it looks beautiful.....nice sunburst finish, the sweet lines of the slope shoulders.

Next, the playability is spectacular. The action is darn near perfect.....I have some hand/pain issues and the ease of playability makes this baby hard to put down. It chords easily and lead lines are a pure joy. I'm sure part of that has to do with the shorter scale length than what I'm used to.

Last, the tone is addictive. While it also has a healthy amount of volume and a nice bass response, it's the sweetness of the tone that delights my ears. The sustain is excellent and notes seem to ring forever. It's an entirely different tone from my lovely old Larrivee and Seagull S6.......but a tone I am quickly becoming addicted to. The ease of playability coupled with it's delicious tone makes it hard to put down.

I realize it's an inexpensive, offshore made instrument I'm gushing about here. I realize some of the reviews are less than stellar. But it seems everything came together that April day in 1998 when this one came off the line. I'm so glad I listened to that little voice that made me go back and buy it.

[rayban]

BB...you're killing me.....

[TomJoad]

BB, it looks even better outside. I love your " I don't think I'll ever sell it", I feel exactly the same.

I think one of the great things about these guitars cosmetically, is they have the same shape p/g as the Gibson J-45, I find the usual Epiphone p/g's a bit large and 'square' looking but I've always had a place for an Epiphone in my life!

[BB]

Yep...love the shape. And, a big yes on the headstock too! The first thing I did was try to put it in a nice spare dread case I have, but the headstock was too big! It fit a quality gig bag I had though, so that worked!

I've bought, played and sold 11 acoustics over the past year and a half, so my comment on 'never selling it' may be a lie! However, everytime I play it, thats the way I feel. I played a real sweet Gibson Hummingbird a while back that was on sale for $2,500. Beautiful guitar. While I don't put this Epi in the same catagory, it sure has many of the same tonal elements that I loved on the Gibson. And at the price I got if for, I'm more than pleased!

I thought about installing a strap button on the neck heel, but decided otherwise and will do the old school tie it to the neck deal.

Found a copy of the Traveling Wilburys recently, so I've been having fun playing Handle With Care and End Of The Line. They sound great with the Epi!

[rjes]

Great looking guitar...BB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rayban]

BB, if it ends up being a lie, can I have first dibs??

[BB]

Originally Posted by rjes

Great looking guitar...BB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks rjes. I do love a good sunburst finish....on electrics as well as acoustics. Love to find a Larrivee Pete Anderson someday!

[BB]

Originally Posted by rayban

BB, if it ends up being a lie, can I have first dibs??

Since you asked rayban...yes, if I do decide to sell it, I'll give you first shot. It's not looking likely at this point though!!

[BB]

Used it for worship today. One of those days that nearly everyone was gone for vacation or some other reason, so it was just me on guitar.

I have a Fishman Neo D so I popped it in and ran it through an old Korg G2 acoustic processor run into the PA.

In the past 11 years, this is perhaps the 4th time I've played acoustic for worship.....I just use my tele and thats it....so, it was fun (especially by myeslf) playing this beauty as the only instrument. I do wish however that I would have not plugged in and just played and sang acoustically.

The Neo D is adequate, but certainly not the best soundhole pup I've used. I have a K&K Pure Mini clone I had made for me a while back. Never installed it, so maybe this is the guitar it should go in.

I'm not well versed in playing acoustic live at all as my gigging (and worship) life hasut I know what sounds good and what doesn't. Todays tone was passable, but I must say, I had visions it was going to be glorious!!

[rayban]

You can rest easy BB...I found mine....Masterbilt AJ500M.....and loving it, I can't seem to keep my hands off it, my wife will be talking to a lawyer soon I'm sure...

[rjes]

Originally Posted by TomJoad

Few pics here as promised, sorry about the delay- first sunshine of the summer over here so i've been relaxing and sitting out back with my guitar playing a few Guthrie classics... no finer days than these!

In regards to strings she's currently got a set of Martin Custom Lights. Im really happy with the sound, I play quite a bit of folk and fingerpicking so its perfect. The bass is deep and loud and the highs are high, but I guess it depends what style of music you play. But I hear that a lot of people say that Epihone 'Masterbilt' strings are really good?? But I'm not sure they are available over here so I might never know! I'm off back outside to catch the last of the rays!...

I just love the look....beautiful

[Warm Gums]

Originally Posted by Stubee

I don't have that one but have a cheaper (I believe) AJ-18 Epi that is a 'cottage guitar' and it is a great axe for the money. Yours is a much nicer looking guitar than mine, have fun!

I too have the 18, I was always looking for a AJ and these are decent guitars for the $150 or so they go for used.
Mine is interesting as it was stamped "used" by Gibson ( warranty return I suppose) and so hung in the local GC for months until the blew it out over Labor Day.
Mine sounds fairly complex,and with the solid top at least hints at the sound of the "real deal"

[fender62custom]

Congrats & enjoy!!!

[BB]

Originally Posted by rayban

You can rest easy BB...I found mine....Masterbilt AJ500M.....and loving it, I can't seem to keep my hands off it, my wife will be talking to a lawyer soon I'm sure...

WOW RB.....it's a beauty! I've played many Masterbilts, but have yet to put my hands on one of these. Glad you found one and you're loving it.....great looking (and sounding/playing, I'm sure) guitar. Congrats!!!!!

BTW...still lovin' mine too. Gave it a good cleaning yesterday along with a new set of strings.....sounds as good as it looks! These are quite a bit of guitar for the coin.