Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)As a lifelong finger-style guitarist it takes a lot to impress me. Looks, sound, intonation, action, string spacing, the works. I found a factory 2nd EF-500RCCE that had some visual blems, and a pickup only under the saddle (earlier model), but after playing it for 3 hours straight the day it arrived I knew that it was THE guitar I had been looking for.
I have relative pitch so I can really tell when an instrument sounds off-pitch or has audible issues. The intonation all the way up and down the fretboard of the EF-500RCCE is as good as I could ever hope for with ANY guitar. I rarely have to adjust the tuning because it stays in tune day after day after day. I keep it humidified while in its case, and always wipe it down after playing (body, neck, and fretboard/strings).
The EF-500RCCE sounds like a dream; beautiful rich tone, surprisingly decent bass, mids that just fill the air, and higher tones that ring like a bell. Great overall projection with wonderful overtones. Epiphone (Gibson) really nailed this design! On my particular guitar the action was just a little low and the outer ends of the frets needed some smoothing, but these were minor refinements. I can play so much better and faster on this guitar than any other acoustic I've ever played - even a $3500 Martin guitar for finger-style guitarists.
I play this guitar VERY often, and it just keeps sounding better and better. I'll be getting another EF-500RCCE eventually, one that has a nicer fit and finish - and with the E-Sonic2 preamp and pickups. That way I can keep one at home as my studio acoustic.
Note: The nut is advertised as 1.75" wide. It actually measures at 1.70" using a digital caliper.
Also, the wide string spacing at the compensated saddle measures 2.37" - for finger-style guitarists.
Further, the neck contour is not the advertised "V" shape. It's actually more of a "D" shape with a perfect rounded thickness. I find its design to be absolutely perfect for me.
The EF-500RCCE has a neck thickness of .953" on the 5th fret (including strings). For comparison, a Gibson Les Paul Special (circa 2001) measures .905" thick on the 5th fret (with strings). The EF-500RCCE neck, overall, is a little fatter than the Les Paul.
Even at $1000 (street), this guitar is a great value. At this price, though, it's a no-brainer!!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Epiphone EF-500RCCE Masterbilt Collection Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Fingerstyle Neck, Natural Satin
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