Who's getting the new Epiphone Les Paul uke?
- Thread starter Kurukato
- Start date
Me... Pre-ordered..
raecarter
Well-known member
How well do you think the pickup will perform being passive? I'd like ones for live shows but that concerns members slightly looked amazing!
piezo pickups are fairly good at picking up vibrations when they are placed right. The ad says that they are placed right under the saddle, so im assuming its under the soundboard in the bridge area, instead of a passive piezo element in the saddle. I'm sure that Epiphone has tested the hell out of the playability of the uke and i bet it will sound great. if not installing a new piezo element isnt too hard, and there are other routes that one can go to make their uke amplified.
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GX9901
Well-known member
100 bucks huh? I guess I'm in. When is it supposed to come out?
March... Cant wait to see how they play..
I'm in
@raecarter - whilst a piezo can pick up some body noise, the bigger gripe I have them is with the lack of tone and volume control. All of that said, I know what a sweet amplifier you bought!!! - a passive into such a sweet acoustic amp will do fine!
Pickups DO matter, but if you spend daft money on nice active pickup setup and then plug it into a cheap amp its just crazy - you can get a better sound ( I would wager) with an entry piezo into a decent acoustic amp like the Marshall AS50 than you will a pricey active into a battery speaker.
Back to the topic - did I say, yes, I want one of these! (badly!)
@raecarter - whilst a piezo can pick up some body noise, the bigger gripe I have them is with the lack of tone and volume control. All of that said, I know what a sweet amplifier you bought!!! - a passive into such a sweet acoustic amp will do fine!
Pickups DO matter, but if you spend daft money on nice active pickup setup and then plug it into a cheap amp its just crazy - you can get a better sound ( I would wager) with an entry piezo into a decent acoustic amp like the Marshall AS50 than you will a pricey active into a battery speaker.
Back to the topic - did I say, yes, I want one of these! (badly!)
raecarter
Well-known member
well that's settled then! Can't wait!
Paul December
Well-known member
PreOrder? Where? Price? ...is it a soprano, concert, tenor?
Leodhas
Well-known member
About a year ago I had the opportunity to get the Epiphone masterbilt Uke for £99 with hard case and didn't and can't remember why. Now I'm kicking myself as they've been discontinued. I even put a post on here asking if anyone had heard anything about them and the response wasn't sufficiently positive to make me purchase. I'm so annoyed with myself. Nevertheless, I've seen that they are releasing this new concert sized uke which is interesting me as I love the Epiphone brand (the Masterbilt was a soprano).
I'm sure most people know that Epiphone are now owned by Gibson and have been downgraded by them, but they are still a cult name in their own right and I think so much more cooler than the gibson brand. Let's just remind everyone of the iconic picture of John Lennon with his Epiphone Casino and McCartney wrote many of his songs on an Epiphone. I know that a lot of pre-70's (I think it's actually pre 68, it's when they moved production to Japan) Epiphones are greatly desired by a lot of musicians. Nevertheless, they still produce good Instruments, I have a Masterbilt guitar, which is a very, very good guitar for the cash.
Anyway I've gone round the houses rambling on about Epiphone when I only really wanted to relay that I've contacted Epiphone (Gibson) about this new Uke to discover if it will be available in Scotland and Epiphone Europe told me that Epiphone aren't doing any Ukes and if I wanted one I would have to buy a 2nd hand masterbilt. As of yet Epiphone (gibson) USA have not got back to me.
I personally blame Gibson for this. I don't know why, I've never liked the Gibson brand. I love the Gretsch/Epiphone/Guild/Rickenbacker brands but never liked Gibson. I think it's due to growing up and seeing the ridiculous spandex clad big haired, predominately American, sorry but they were although England and mainland europe had their fair share, dross rock bands on TV sporting Gibson Les Pauls and used to think to myself, even at such a tender age, these lads are d**ks!
Anyway, any feed back as to what gibson plan to do with this uke will be most welcome, will they be bringing it to europe?
I'm sure most people know that Epiphone are now owned by Gibson and have been downgraded by them, but they are still a cult name in their own right and I think so much more cooler than the gibson brand. Let's just remind everyone of the iconic picture of John Lennon with his Epiphone Casino and McCartney wrote many of his songs on an Epiphone. I know that a lot of pre-70's (I think it's actually pre 68, it's when they moved production to Japan) Epiphones are greatly desired by a lot of musicians. Nevertheless, they still produce good Instruments, I have a Masterbilt guitar, which is a very, very good guitar for the cash.
Anyway I've gone round the houses rambling on about Epiphone when I only really wanted to relay that I've contacted Epiphone (Gibson) about this new Uke to discover if it will be available in Scotland and Epiphone Europe told me that Epiphone aren't doing any Ukes and if I wanted one I would have to buy a 2nd hand masterbilt. As of yet Epiphone (gibson) USA have not got back to me.
I personally blame Gibson for this. I don't know why, I've never liked the Gibson brand. I love the Gretsch/Epiphone/Guild/Rickenbacker brands but never liked Gibson. I think it's due to growing up and seeing the ridiculous spandex clad big haired, predominately American, sorry but they were although England and mainland europe had their fair share, dross rock bands on TV sporting Gibson Les Pauls and used to think to myself, even at such a tender age, these lads are d**ks!
Anyway, any feed back as to what gibson plan to do with this uke will be most welcome, will they be bringing it to europe?
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My Epi Les Paul Uke is on order.
I would love to find an Epi Masterbuilt Uke. If it sounded half as good as it looks, I'd have to think of a great reason not to get one.
-Kurt
I would love to find an Epi Masterbuilt Uke. If it sounded half as good as it looks, I'd have to think of a great reason not to get one.
-Kurt
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Epi has been owned by Gibson since 1957, and was built in the USA until 1970 when it was moved to Asia. Epiphone still makes some very nice quality guitars, but like any factory built anything, QA is a crap shoot. Overall, they are really nice, but they still have a lemon sqeek through every so often. Between myself and my daughter, we own 2 Epi Les Pauls, and 1 Gibson Les Paul. The Gibson is still a better quality built guitar than Epi, BUT not by as much as people would think. You can buy a Gibson Les Paul and spend $1700, and the Epi counterpart of that Gibson for $700. Is there a $1000 difference in quality? personally, I don't think so. Epi makes some really awesome playing Les Pauls, just as Gibson does, and Epi offers real Les Paul's for half to a third the cost of their big brothers which makes a historic world reknown axe available to people like myself, and kids that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford one. I love my Gibson, but I also love my Epis. I enjoy owning both. And I can't wait to see how the new Epi Uke turns out. Epi started it's exsistance by making Ukuleles, and Banjos before Gibson bought them out. I just hope they can make a successful return to their roots. I'm optimistic about it.
haole
Well-known member
It sure is pretty. I'd like to take one for a spin first, though, because I'm very leery of all Gibson products lately.
Paul December
Well-known member
...is it a soprano, concert, tenor?
...Anyone?
street price in $100. It's a concert. PedalFreak is taking names for the list.
Leodhas
Well-known member
Aye.
Aye, the pre 70's Archtops by Epi (whilst they were still made in the states) are real collectors items and a lot of established musicians have one. They are very sort after guitars. My uncle used to have a pre-gibson Archtop circa late 40's early 50's but my cousin sold it when my uncle passed. I think it was a broadway, this is 15 years ago. I have two Epiphone guitars, I have an acoustic Masterbilt and a casino. Great guitars for the money.
I just want to know if they will sell the new uke in Europe, I'm getting a feeling they won't.
Aye, the pre 70's Archtops by Epi (whilst they were still made in the states) are real collectors items and a lot of established musicians have one. They are very sort after guitars. My uncle used to have a pre-gibson Archtop circa late 40's early 50's but my cousin sold it when my uncle passed. I think it was a broadway, this is 15 years ago. I have two Epiphone guitars, I have an acoustic Masterbilt and a casino. Great guitars for the money.
I just want to know if they will sell the new uke in Europe, I'm getting a feeling they won't.
Hmmm, I can't help but wonder if it's a Mahalo with an epiphone name and good quality control? Sure looks great for $99. I wish they had the darker brown burst.
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GX9901
Well-known member
I think this thing could be a piece of crap and be worth $100 just because it's an official Les Paul. I have rock bottom expectations for it as an instrument. I mean, I'm paying Mya Moe more for a K&K soundboard pickup installation alone! If it is anything approaching a decently playing and/or sounding ukulele, I'd be thrilled.
