Possible NGD - Epiphone Joe Pass

[DADGAD]

Found this Epiphone Joe Pass guitar locally and it looks nice. It was built by Samick in November 1993. It has some players wear and minor scuffs and scrapes but is a nice playing guitar. Not the worst sounding guitar I've ever played, either. It's very pretty. Playing clean through a Deluxe Reverb it almost sounds like an acoustic. It doesn't have a HSC but, it does come with a gig bag.

Is the spruce top solid or laminate? Are the pickups alnico? I can't find specs for a '93 anywhere. All the pots are scratchy but I can clean that up. Is it worth $225? What can you tell me about these guitars?

 

[kingofdogs1950]

I would give $225 for it if nothing is wrong with it.
The pots can be cleaned/lubed and likely don't need to be replaced.
I will guess the top is laminate.
No idea on the pickups but they are probably good.

Mark

 

[brookdalebill]

Indeed, $225 is a good price.

 

[blowtorch]

Decent guitar, and my first foray into the archtop world. I saw it hanging in the store and I knew I HAD to have it, after being a huge Scotty Moore/Setzer fan, and having never in my life seen an archtop anywhere in a guitar store up to that point (probably sometime in the late 80s)
I decided to replace the wooden bridge with a TOM, and Chuck at Sound Logic told me I was one out of probably 3 guys in all of Madtown who had an archtop

It's long gone, but I have fond memories of it

 

[McGlamRock]

It's body is definitely all laminate. Don't know if the pickups are alnico. Even without a HSC, $225 is a very good deal IMO

 

[dougstrum]

For $225 if you want a jazz guitar go for it! Most likely laminate top good gig guitar.
I'd hate to haul an expensive carved top around. I use an old Aria for jazz gigs, the
laminated top resists feedback more than a solid top. Sounds like a good bet.

 

[Mad Kiwi]

Have long been looking for a deal like that on one of these. I reckon you'd be crazy not too.

 

[warrent]

The price is worth it, The tops probably laminated, but so was the top on Joe's ES 175.

 

[DADGAD]

Well, I was saving up for something else when this popped up. I'll go ahead and pull the cork out of my piggy bank. Thanks for supporting my GAS.

This guy makes the Epi Joe Pass look real interesting.

 

[warrent]

From the now dead epiphone wiki
Joe Pass Emperor
1991-1993
Body:

Laminated Maple body
Select Spruce top
Figured maple back
16" body width
Neck:

Set 3-piece Maple neck
Rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays
Clipped-ear headstock with Vine inlay
24.75" scale
1.68" nut width
Binding:

5-ply body, headstock & pickguard
7-ply neck
Single-ply f-hole
Electronics:

Two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups
2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
3-way selector switch on treble horn
Hardware:

Gold hardware
Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
Ornate trapeze tailpiece
Simulated tortoise shell pickguard with "Joe Pass" signature
Diecast tuners
Gold tophat knobs
Colors:

Vintage Sunburst (VS)


Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II
1994-Current
Body:

Laminated Maple body
Select Spruce top
16" body width
Neck:

Set 3-piece Maple neck with SlimTaper "C" profile
Rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays
Clipped-ear headstock with Vine inlay
2-ply truss rod cover with "Joe Pass" inscription
12" fingerboard radius
24.75" scale
1.68" nut width
Binding:

5-ply pickguard, body & headstock
7-ply neck
Single-ply f-hole
Electronics:

Two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups
2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
3-way selector switch on upper bass bout
Hardware:

Gold hardware
Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
Ornate trapeze tailpiece
16:1 ratio Grover die-cast tuners
Simulated tortoise shell pickguard with "Joe Pass" signature
Gold tophat knobs
Colors

Natural (NA)
Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Heritage Cherry Sunburst (HS)

Note that in Epi speak select spruce top means laminated they state solid spruce when they use it.

 

[bftfender]

those Epi's are good, i have 2 set up and playing as good as anything out there..give em some love...the craftsmanship on some of those can really surprise you

 

[Bruxist]

I have an Oscar Schmidt copy probably made at the same plant. It is a helluva a guitar for the money.

 

[DADGAD]

From the now dead epiphone wiki
Joe Pass Emperor
1991-1993
Body:

Laminated Maple body
Select Spruce top
Figured maple back
16" body width
Neck:

Set 3-piece Maple neck
Rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays
Clipped-ear headstock with Vine inlay
24.75" scale
1.68" nut width
Binding:

5-ply body, headstock & pickguard
7-ply neck
Single-ply f-hole
Electronics:

Two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups
2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
3-way selector switch on treble horn
Hardware:

Gold hardware
Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
Ornate trapeze tailpiece
Simulated tortoise shell pickguard with "Joe Pass" signature
Diecast tuners
Gold tophat knobs
Colors:

Vintage Sunburst (VS)


Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II
1994-Current
Body:

Laminated Maple body
Select Spruce top
16" body width
Neck:

Set 3-piece Maple neck with SlimTaper "C" profile
Rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays
Clipped-ear headstock with Vine inlay
2-ply truss rod cover with "Joe Pass" inscription
12" fingerboard radius
24.75" scale
1.68" nut width
Binding:

5-ply pickguard, body & headstock
7-ply neck
Single-ply f-hole
Electronics:

Two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups
2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
3-way selector switch on upper bass bout
Hardware:

Gold hardware
Adjustable rosewood bridge with rosewood base
Ornate trapeze tailpiece
16:1 ratio Grover die-cast tuners
Simulated tortoise shell pickguard with "Joe Pass" signature
Gold tophat knobs
Colors

Natural (NA)
Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Heritage Cherry Sunburst (HS)

Note that in Epi speak select spruce top means laminated they state solid spruce when they use it.

Thanks, warrent! That helps a lot.

 

[orangeblossom]

Great deal. Sharp guitar.

 

[schmee]

Definitely it's worth $225. It appears it may be one of the more highly respected Korean Epi's from the headstock inlays.

 

[Fiesta Red]

I’d love to have one of those...I’ve heard a few folks using them, dead stock, and they sound great

 

[dan1952]

Great guitar for $225. Those are known for rattles that can't be tracked down, but they aren't generally audible through the amp.

 

[boredguy6060]

As a big fan of both Arch Tops and Ibanez I’d pay $225 any day for that guitar.

 

[Henry Mars]

I have mixed feelings where Epiphone is concerned ... This is a personal thing but I find the Joe Pass model and for that mater all of their jazz boxes uncomfortable to play and the hardware is almost always trash JMHO. You can almost always find a better Ibanez in the same price range.
Right now I'm looking around for another ES-335 type guitar ... The Epi's are a good substrate if you don't mind gutting the thing and replacing all of the pots, switches and PU's. You will have to do it anyway after a year of normal use. The same can be said for the Joe Pass models. If it has been upgraded go for it .... if not look for something else.

 

[Lonn]

Those get twice that amount here, that's a great price.