I have the same guitar and can confirm that the fit and finish is unbelievably good for a mid range/priced guitar. The Indonesians who made this guitar really took pride in what they were doing and their craftsmanship is phenomenal.
@@paulgeorgia8013 I had a similar experience, I purchased mine in the UK in early 2021 (it was made in Sept 20) for £800 but they are now over £1000 here and likewise v difficult to get hold of new.
@@paulgeorgia8013 The Excellente was so good that I immediately went out and purchased the Frontier that's also made in the same factory and is also as a Masterbit reissue. I also then purchased the new Inspired by Hummingbird 6 & 12 also made in the same factory as the masterbilts and all fantastically sounding and playing guitar. I think they are all made by Samick.
Hey Paul, I bought mine a few months back and I completely agree! I also picked up the Inspired by Gibson Hummingbird and they have both just really blown me away. While they are called budget, they are so far from budget quality that it makes my head spin. Like you, I do have a frame of reference. Based off of what I'm seeing Gibson allow them to do with the IBG Hummingbird, J45 and J200, as well as the Materbuilt Frontier and Excellente, I'm not the least bit shy about singing their praises for a job well done.
Great video ! Epiphone has done a great job with the Mesterbilt line my AJ 500 will give a J45 a run. The original 63 used laminate , I think it might have been sides and solid back or the other way around and but re-issue in `96/97 used laminate B/S. Now the re-issue on `93 from Bozeman was all solid woods and they only made 250. I hope they keep the Masterbilt line going.
Just one week ago, I have finally bought this great guitar..... We have not to talk so much about Excellente, cause Gibson will be very nervous.. for price they give it!!!🤣Bought the last one existed in Europe (Greece) for 1,158 euros (1276 $)....My opinion.. it's a steal....So balanced sound...wow..... Thanks to you Paul and some others, I finally tested it....and bought it immediately!!! 🙂 Greetings from the country of Epiphone's founders , Anastasios and Epi Stathopoulos, Greece! God bless you!
In 1976 I had one Epiphone with the figure of 8 and it was very stable in sound and structure . Unforfunately someone assaulted my appartment in Paris and took the guitar.
I really lucked out when I called my small town music shop a few weeks ago and asked if they could find me one of these awesome guitars. I saw one being reviewed by one of Canada's great acoustic guitar players, and actually, J.P. Cormier plays all kinds of instruments! He was blown away by the craftsmanship/quality tone and ease of play. He actually said the Excellente was the very best acoustic he'd ever played!! He pretty much said what you did, that this guitar stands up to, or is superior to, even the very best most expensive acoustics across the board!! Cormier said this guitar should be selling for $5,000!! After seeing that video and hearing the guitar I got right on the horn and asked if they could find me one. John told me he didn't have a clue where he could get one and they were extremely difficult to find for sale. A couple of weeks ago I got a call from John and he told me he called his supplier and just by random, fluke timing, he caught the dealer at the exact perfect time because he had procured 40 Excellentes which was the number in total, being sent into Canada!! JUST 40! Had John called a day later it would have been too late, because once word got out that there were 40 available, they were swamped with calls and all 40 went in a matter of minutes, and I GOT ONE!! Now, I lost my thriving business, our beautiful Victorian home, which I was building a studio in the attic, two cars and a pick up truck, along with a boat and a hovercraft and finally, all our investments and savings when my health took a very steep nose dive and I battled between life and death in hospital for over three months!! My poor wife and family were told I was not going to survive, so it was a very difficult time. I wasn't eligible for disability pension because I had money and assets, and so we had to burn through it all before I got the pension. I had an Epiphone Casino, a Seagull Maritime, and a Epiphone AJ 100 for campfire fun! I sold them all so I could buy this Epiphone Excellente and I do not regret it, not one bit!! I LOVED both the Casino and the Seagull, but my love for the Excellente overpowered them easily! I feel like a kid on Christmas eve!!! Any day now John will call me to tell me the Excellente is in, and to come and pick it up!!! Retail in Canada is $1,700 plus tax, so they are not cheap, but according to experts and many folks such as yourself, they are worth every penny and then some!! With just 40 coming into Canada, it is also an investment instrument, and so one of my three sons will have the option of keeping it or selling after I'm in my pine box!! ") Obviously that's somewhat of a joke, but I do expect they will be one of those rare examples where an acoustic will go up in value the day the owners get them due to the rarity and quality. Great review, I really appreciate it! Jack ~'()'~
Greetings from New Zealand...... I've had an Epiphone Excellente, for 5 months now. I tried the entire range of the 'Inspired' Acoustics, and preferred it over the Hummingbird, and the J-200. Cheers Mate.
I bought one of these about 6 months ago. It is a beautiful instrument. The sound is very nice and it seems to be getting better as It ages a bit. It stays in tune forever. Rich full sound. I recommend trying one.
Nice 👍🏻 🎸 one ! I got a 2017 Gibson J-45 custom that I absolutely love! My only epiphone is the Joe Bonamassa Pelham blue Les Paul copy , that is absolutely Mint! NOTHING wrong with Epiphones , jeez George an John played them , think the 66 Casino for John!
Yep it's pretty good but have you tried the Guild D140, in much the same vein as this but more balanced sounding and astonishingly good value too, great to see a proper review with proper information 👍.
I had a D140 and sold it and bought the Epi Frontier Masterbilt. The D140 is a fine guitar for sure and recommended. However I was hankerin' for the cowboy jingle jangle of the Frontier's maple. A little bit like the Dove.. At the 2:50 mark of this video you can hear the tone of the maple which I was craving: czcams.com/video/T8n6i-VeHis/video.html That is a 60+ year old guitar and the USA made version (and has some poor intonation on mids and highs).. I am very happy with the Masterbilt Frontier (the intonation is spot on but it will be a while to become as rich in bass as the '64 in the video)... As others have said, the build quality and appointments are mind blowing at the Masterbilt's price point and I love the way the finish looks like satin nitro even though others have said it's poly..
I recently ordered the Hummingbird EPI. Also very heavy. It doesn't sound like the Gibson. I am wondering if a change to strings or bridge pins would get it closer to a Gibson.
Thanks for watching. I've tried some of the 'Inspired By Gibson' models, with varying degrees of success. I recently bought an EPI J200 (see my review video for details) and I am pretty disappointed in the sound. New strings definitely help, but so far this Excellente has been the only one I've really liked.
@@paulgeorgia8013 Yeah I am very happy with the Frontier Masterbilt I recently purchased. The same shop had both the IBG Hummingbird and EJ200. I tried both and wasn't impressed. It seems the Masterbilts are the real standouts and the tonal difference is very close to the USA models as this video with A/B of 1964 USA vs 2020 masterbilt can attest: czcams.com/video/7uyVeR_8BxY/video.html But I wouldn't knock the IBGs either - probably just needs some careful string choice, time to open-up (and maybe a Tusq saddle) to get a little closer to its more expensive USA counterparts.
Hi Gil, In your shoes I would try different strings (recommend Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze) but in particular have the nut and saddle swapped to Tusq. It isn't a large cost (about $30 for each plus your guitar tech's fee unless you have the knowhow).. Tusq nut might help a little but the Tusq saddle will influence tone dramatically - I have found it makes the bass strings deeper and thumpier and increases the harmonics across the board which might get you a little closer to the USA Gibsons (but I do find you lose a tiny bit of clarity in the highs vs bone saddle)... IMO it would be worth a try before giving up as the IBG Hummingbird is one sweet looking and playing rig...
I bought an Excellente reissue earlier this year and was not happy with it as the small "e" string was touching the higher frets when the string was pushed down on the 12. Also the pick guard was starting to left away from the body. I returned the guitar and ordered a Yamaha FSX5 which arrived on Friday. So far I'm very happy with the Yamaha. It is quite a bit lighter than the Epiphone. The Excellente is rated very high by many on CZcams so one person's experience is not a reason to reject the guitar.
@@justinthyme2666 I have two Yamaha models, the LL-16 ARE and the FSX5. The FSX5 is smaller and easier to learn. I bought both on the reputation of Yamaha. I know very little about guitars and picked both as very good models to start with.
@@robertmartin4821 they're definitely very good. I just wasn't understanding why you tried a dread shape and went with something smaller instead. I've got a mahogany ll16 that I'm trying to sale. I got the fg5 because the ll16 is a bit too bright for my taste and is really big. I also have the ls16 which I love a great deal.
@@justinthyme2666 I watch String Theory and that's why I went with Yamaha to start with. I'm learning as I get older and have a long way to go to become seasoned!
Hello Paul, can I ask what your favorite is? This guitar or the Guild F250e Deluxe that you have also spent videos on. I've owned the Guild twice. The first copy came out of the box damaged, so I had to send it back. The second copy had a label that was not stuck to the correct record and the tuners were mounted crookedly, so I returned that one too. I thought both sounded very nice and played well, and in addition to the sunburst version, there is now also a blonde with gold hardware on the market, so I decided to take the gamble again and purchase one. But in the meantime I came across the Epiphone Frontier (Indonesian) in the local guitar shop here, and I really love that guitar. To me as good as my Gibson Hummingbird and Martin HD35. The Frontier is also maple, but unlike the Guild, completely solid. The Excellente was not in the shop, but it is available in other stores here in the Netherlands, and for a very competitive price (around 1100 euro’s) I would like to read your opinion. And you also played the Frontier?
Hi Marc, Wow, that’s a tough question. I enjoy them both so much. But if I had to choose between the two, I’d choose the Excellente. It’s just got all of the tools, in addition to being a stunningly beautiful guitar. But I still say: you can’t go wrong with that 250E. What a value. So, I know it’s a wishy washy answer, but I hope this helps, and good luck! Thanks for watching! ❤️🎸😎
If I would be playing the Guild and didn’t know what it was I would say it is a 2000 Euro or Dollar guitar, maybe 3000… Really, and I played a lot of guitars in my life. But I was also blown away by the Epiphone Frontier. I always wanted a guitar with maple back and sides, like the Gibson Dove, but I am at a point in my life where I am not gonna pay prices for American or Spanish made guitars anymore. And that also has to to with the fact that Asian built guitars are getting better and better. The choice between the Guild and the Frontier was a tough one, but now also the Excellente caught my attention. Looks and sounds great on video.
@marchaas3768 I agree with you, the stuff coming out of is getting pretty amazing! I have an Epi Hummingbird that is just ridiculously good. And the Epi J45 I got sounds better than my Gibson J45.
Love your phrase only need one MORE LOL LOST SEVENTEEN VINTAGE GUITARS IN MARCH 2022 house fire no insurance my excellente arrived may 11 my birthday lol I ordered it on line had it delivered to my local long and mcquade I was # 8 of twenty being released in April also purchased a rd328 recording king both are exceptional instruments one is everything Gibson has to offer and the other covers the Martin stable the recording king was purchased in 2019 aug suffered from Fire damage but survived it has opened up and is brilliant I have had at least five hundred guitars to date these are keepers can’t wait for the epiphone to get some age to it don’t plan on it going thru the drying the recording king did lol
I highly recommend the Excellente, even at its always increasing market price. I own many high end guitars (Martin, Taylor and other top luthiers) and this guitar holds its own with any of them as a bargain in its price range. It has one major fault. It does not come with a case and Epiphone no longer makes the cases for it. That is a genuine shame. By pure luck, I had already discovered and bought one of the rare 139 cases that came with an original limited edition Excellente prior to this reissue of the Excellente coming on to the market. It is a hard shell case that is leather bound in black leather with brown leather trim. It is, by far, the best guitar case that I own out of 30 top end boutique guitars in my collection. It has the Epiphone name stencilled in gold on the top of the case which matches the gold latches.
Fun looking Epiphone guitar, but for the price point and sound. You can have a much better guitar . . . like Eastman you cant go wrong believe me comes real close too Martin some prefer even the Eastman then Martin or Taylor or little more money buy the Collins. Maybe not so glitter and glamour, but much better sounded and wel made and weight 👊
Totally agree...I have one and I have many top brand high end models from Martin, Collings, Gibson, Taylor, and Eastman. No, the Epiphone Excellente does not sound as good as those brands, BUT for the money it is very nice, all solid wood, and well built. It's actually too heavy and overbuilt, which I believe does affect the tone unplugged. Plugged in it is awesome albeit like I said if you gig with it, you better lift weights first to build upper body strength as she's heavy. Overall, beautiful and fun guitar ESPECIALLY at that price. Since it is such a "looker" I use it part of the time for gigging, until the weight gets to me then I switch to something else.
The Epiphone sounds as good as some models of Martin, Gibson, Taylors and Eastman. Its a real stunning guitar, the only thing which is bad about is the horrible fishman sonitone pickup
@@paulgeorgia8013 i am asking as I have an Hummingbird 12 strings, also masterbuilt. The only issue I have it's neck heavy, probably due to the truss rod, the grover tuners and the light mahogany body. However the sound is great, a notch below my Guild F512 but that costed me 4x times the Epi.
@@paulgeorgia8013 i tried a 6 strings 200 the day I bought the Hummingbird and to be honest i wasn't impressed, however I'd be curious to know if your 12 strings has an heavy neck too.
@@alessandrocerioli2151 Yes I also had an Epi J200 6 string, didn't like the sound - check out my review video of that. The 12 string is SO much better, and not neck heavy at all. I'm really happy with it.
@@paulgeorgia8013 l bought the guitar thinking it was ovankol, then a vid l watched said it was rosewood, another saying it was an inlay... I finally found a Epi spec sheet that stated walnut! I was shocked! Such fantastic woods, beautiful mother of pearl... I still can't figure 2 things.. why did they use a plastic feeling poly paint on such a great guitar and second.. why would they put a HUGE, thick, gummy, tone deadening pickgaurd on the sound board deck of the guitar..l removed the massive gaurd and YES it IS noticably BETTER!! What a great guitar..it sounds great WITH the rediculous gaurd to begin with but without it..it's ultra!
@@jameshill2015 Hi James, I don't doubt the pick guard would be reducing the top's vibration. As to why they did it - Because these are faithful replicas of the 1960's USA made Epiphones (that now cost 10s of thousands!). That's just what they were - cowboy guitars with lotsa bling.. lol.. As to the paint, I love it - I think it's amazing they got poly to look like satin nitro.. One must keep in mind that these are sub-$1000 US guitars - Spraying Nitro takes more time and involves a lot of safety issues (Nitro likes to explode like its dynamite cousin).. I take my hat off to Epiphone (and its parent company Gibson) for delivering affordable guitars that give most of what the USA models give that regular folks on regular wages can afford... Enjoy that Excellente!
45 seconds of playing. 8 minutes lecturing on Epiphone's history and rambling on how Great this Excellente guitar Sounds. If so: Just PLAY THE GUITAR! And - leave this echo chamber/living room, chose a small room with rugs on the floor and some textiles, Also: Put the mic 1 feet in front of the guitar. In other words; Show this Great guitar some Respect. OK?
Keep playing it. It will open up Also, check the nut slots, they could need a bit of opening up to let the strings vibrate more. Don’t give up, you’ll get a sound out of it
I have the same guitar and can confirm that the fit and finish is unbelievably good for a mid range/priced guitar. The Indonesians who made this guitar really took pride in what they were doing and their craftsmanship is phenomenal.
Yes, it’s pretty amazing. I see that the retail price has jumped to $1,299. So glad I bought it last year
@@paulgeorgia8013 I had a similar experience, I purchased mine in the UK in early 2021 (it was made in Sept 20) for £800 but they are now over £1000 here and likewise v difficult to get hold of new.
@@paulgeorgia8013 The Excellente was so good that I immediately went out and purchased the Frontier that's also made in the same factory and is also as a Masterbit reissue. I also then purchased the new Inspired by Hummingbird 6 & 12 also made in the same factory as the masterbilts and all fantastically sounding and playing guitar. I think they are all made by Samick.
Hey Paul, I bought mine a few months back and I completely agree! I also picked up the Inspired by Gibson Hummingbird and they have both just really blown me away. While they are called budget, they are so far from budget quality that it makes my head spin. Like you, I do have a frame of reference. Based off of what I'm seeing Gibson allow them to do with the IBG Hummingbird, J45 and J200, as well as the Materbuilt Frontier and Excellente, I'm not the least bit shy about singing their praises for a job well done.
Thanks for watching and the feedback!
Great video ! Epiphone has done a great job with the Mesterbilt line my AJ 500 will give a J45 a run. The original 63 used laminate , I think it might have been sides and solid back or the other way around and but re-issue in `96/97 used laminate B/S. Now the re-issue on `93 from Bozeman was all solid woods and they only made 250. I hope they keep the Masterbilt line going.
Just one week ago, I have finally bought this great guitar.....
We have not to talk so much about Excellente, cause Gibson will be very nervous.. for price they give it!!!🤣Bought the last one existed in Europe (Greece) for 1,158 euros (1276 $)....My opinion.. it's a steal....So balanced sound...wow.....
Thanks to you Paul and some others, I finally tested it....and bought it immediately!!! 🙂
Greetings from the country of Epiphone's founders , Anastasios and Epi Stathopoulos, Greece! God bless you!
In 1976 I had one Epiphone with the figure of 8 and it was very stable in sound and structure . Unforfunately someone assaulted my appartment in Paris and took the guitar.
Sorry to hear this are you ok?
@@elsizzle2000 yes. That was a longtime ago and I wasn't at home. Thx.
Wow! You play it well- I love the sound of that Epiphone. I am a big Epiphone fan.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
I really lucked out when I called my small town music shop a few weeks ago and asked if they could find me one of these awesome guitars.
I saw one being reviewed by one of Canada's great acoustic guitar players, and actually, J.P. Cormier plays all kinds of instruments!
He was blown away by the craftsmanship/quality tone and ease of play. He actually said the Excellente was the very best acoustic he'd ever played!! He pretty much said what you did, that this guitar stands up to, or is superior to, even the very best most expensive acoustics across the board!!
Cormier said this guitar should be selling for $5,000!!
After seeing that video and hearing the guitar I got right on the horn and asked if they could find me one.
John told me he didn't have a clue where he could get one and they were extremely difficult to find for sale.
A couple of weeks ago I got a call from John and he told me he called his supplier and just by random, fluke timing, he caught the dealer at the exact perfect time because he had procured 40 Excellentes which was the number in total, being sent into Canada!! JUST 40!
Had John called a day later it would have been too late, because once word got out that there were 40 available, they were swamped with calls and all 40 went in a matter of minutes, and I GOT ONE!!
Now, I lost my thriving business, our beautiful Victorian home, which I was building a studio in the attic, two cars and a pick up truck, along with a boat and a hovercraft and finally, all our investments and savings when my health took a very steep nose dive and I battled between life and death in hospital for over three months!!
My poor wife and family were told I was not going to survive, so it was a very difficult time.
I wasn't eligible for disability pension because I had money and assets, and so we had to burn through it all before I got the pension.
I had an Epiphone Casino, a Seagull Maritime, and a Epiphone AJ 100 for campfire fun! I sold them all so I could buy this Epiphone Excellente and I do not regret it, not one bit!!
I LOVED both the Casino and the Seagull, but my love for the Excellente overpowered them easily! I feel like a kid on Christmas eve!!!
Any day now John will call me to tell me the Excellente is in, and to come and pick it up!!! Retail in Canada is $1,700 plus tax, so they are not cheap, but according to experts and many folks such as yourself, they are worth every penny and then some!!
With just 40 coming into Canada, it is also an investment instrument, and so one of my three sons will have the option of keeping it or selling after I'm in my pine box!! ")
Obviously that's somewhat of a joke, but I do expect they will be one of those rare examples where an acoustic will go up in value the day the owners get them due to the rarity and quality.
Great review, I really appreciate it!
Jack ~'()'~
Greetings from New Zealand...... I've had an Epiphone Excellente, for 5 months now. I tried the entire range of the 'Inspired' Acoustics, and preferred it over the Hummingbird, and the J-200. Cheers Mate.
I bought one of these about 6 months ago. It is a beautiful instrument. The sound is very nice and it seems to be getting better as It ages a bit. It stays in tune forever. Rich full sound. I recommend trying one.
I just bought one. It’s very nice! Thanks.
Awesome! Great choice! I’m glad you like it. Thanks for watching! 🎸😎🙏
Nice 👍🏻 🎸 one ! I got a 2017 Gibson J-45 custom that I absolutely love! My only epiphone is the Joe Bonamassa Pelham blue Les Paul copy , that is absolutely Mint! NOTHING wrong with Epiphones , jeez George an John played them , think the 66 Casino for John!
Yep it's pretty good but have you tried the Guild D140, in much the same vein as this but more balanced sounding and astonishingly good value too, great to see a proper review with proper information 👍.
Thanks for watching. I haven’t see a Guild D 140 yet, I’ll keep an eye out for it. My only Guild is my D55. It’s killer
I had a D140 and sold it and bought the Epi Frontier Masterbilt. The D140 is a fine guitar for sure and recommended. However I was hankerin' for the cowboy jingle jangle of the Frontier's maple. A little bit like the Dove.. At the 2:50 mark of this video you can hear the tone of the maple which I was craving: czcams.com/video/T8n6i-VeHis/video.html That is a 60+ year old guitar and the USA made version (and has some poor intonation on mids and highs).. I am very happy with the Masterbilt Frontier (the intonation is spot on but it will be a while to become as rich in bass as the '64 in the video)... As others have said, the build quality and appointments are mind blowing at the Masterbilt's price point and I love the way the finish looks like satin nitro even though others have said it's poly..
Gorgeous guitar. 🎸.
Thanks, I agree. It’s still one of my favorites to play and own. Thanks for watching
That thing sounds pretty rich to my ears!
Thanks, I agree. Sorry the audio isn’t so great, I was using my phone back when I made this video. Thanks for watching
I recently ordered the Hummingbird EPI. Also very heavy. It doesn't sound like the Gibson. I am wondering if a change to strings or bridge pins would get it closer to a Gibson.
Thanks for watching. I've tried some of the 'Inspired By Gibson' models, with varying degrees of success. I recently bought an EPI J200 (see my review video for details) and I am pretty disappointed in the sound. New strings definitely help, but so far this Excellente has been the only one I've really liked.
@@paulgeorgia8013 Yeah I am very happy with the Frontier Masterbilt I recently purchased. The same shop had both the IBG Hummingbird and EJ200. I tried both and wasn't impressed. It seems the Masterbilts are the real standouts and the tonal difference is very close to the USA models as this video with A/B of 1964 USA vs 2020 masterbilt can attest:
czcams.com/video/7uyVeR_8BxY/video.html
But I wouldn't knock the IBGs either - probably just needs some careful string choice, time to open-up (and maybe a Tusq saddle) to get a little closer to its more expensive USA counterparts.
Hi Gil, In your shoes I would try different strings (recommend Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze) but in particular have the nut and saddle swapped to Tusq. It isn't a large cost (about $30 for each plus your guitar tech's fee unless you have the knowhow).. Tusq nut might help a little but the Tusq saddle will influence tone dramatically - I have found it makes the bass strings deeper and thumpier and increases the harmonics across the board which might get you a little closer to the USA Gibsons (but I do find you lose a tiny bit of clarity in the highs vs bone saddle)... IMO it would be worth a try before giving up as the IBG Hummingbird is one sweet looking and playing rig...
I bought one 3 days ago from guitar center. Its back order so i have no idea when its coming
I hope you get it soon, and I hope it’s a great one!
🙏🎸😎
I bought an Excellente reissue earlier this year and was not happy with it as the small "e" string was touching the higher frets when the string was pushed down on the 12. Also the pick guard was starting to left away from the body. I returned the guitar and ordered a Yamaha FSX5 which arrived on Friday. So far I'm very happy with the Yamaha. It is quite a bit lighter than the Epiphone. The Excellente is rated very high by many on CZcams so one person's experience is not a reason to reject the guitar.
Sorry to hear that. It sounds like something that could be fixed with a proper setup
Yamahas are awesome too
Just curious why you got the concert size Yamaha and not the dread
@@justinthyme2666 I have two Yamaha models, the LL-16 ARE and the FSX5. The FSX5 is smaller and easier to learn. I bought both on the reputation of Yamaha. I know very little about guitars and picked both as very good models to start with.
@@robertmartin4821 they're definitely very good. I just wasn't understanding why you tried a dread shape and went with something smaller instead. I've got a mahogany ll16 that I'm trying to sale. I got the fg5 because the ll16 is a bit too bright for my taste and is really big. I also have the ls16 which I love a great deal.
@@justinthyme2666 I watch String Theory and that's why I went with Yamaha to start with. I'm learning as I get older and have a long way to go to become seasoned!
Hello Paul, can I ask what your favorite is? This guitar or the Guild F250e Deluxe that you have also spent videos on. I've owned the Guild twice. The first copy came out of the box damaged, so I had to send it back. The second copy had a label that was not stuck to the correct record and the tuners were mounted crookedly, so I returned that one too. I thought both sounded very nice and played well, and in addition to the sunburst version, there is now also a blonde with gold hardware on the market, so I decided to take the gamble again and purchase one. But in the meantime I came across the Epiphone Frontier (Indonesian) in the local guitar shop here, and I really love that guitar. To me as good as my Gibson Hummingbird and Martin HD35. The Frontier is also maple, but unlike the Guild, completely solid. The Excellente was not in the shop, but it is available in other stores here in the Netherlands, and for a very competitive price (around 1100 euro’s) I would like to read your opinion. And you also played the Frontier?
Hi Marc,
Wow, that’s a tough question. I enjoy them both so much. But if I had to choose between the two, I’d choose the Excellente. It’s just got all of the tools, in addition to being a stunningly beautiful guitar.
But I still say: you can’t go wrong with that 250E. What a value.
So, I know it’s a wishy washy answer, but I hope this helps, and good luck! Thanks for watching! ❤️🎸😎
If I would be playing the Guild and didn’t know what it was I would say it is a 2000 Euro or Dollar guitar, maybe 3000… Really, and I played a lot of guitars in my life. But I was also blown away by the Epiphone Frontier. I always wanted a guitar with maple back and sides, like the Gibson Dove, but I am at a point in my life where I am not gonna pay prices for American or Spanish made guitars anymore. And that also has to to with the fact that Asian built guitars are getting better and better. The choice between the Guild and the Frontier was a tough one, but now also the Excellente caught my attention. Looks and sounds great on video.
@marchaas3768 I agree with you, the stuff coming out of is getting pretty amazing! I have an Epi Hummingbird that is just ridiculously good. And the Epi J45 I got sounds better than my Gibson J45.
Love your phrase only need one MORE LOL LOST SEVENTEEN VINTAGE GUITARS IN MARCH 2022 house fire no insurance my excellente arrived may 11 my birthday lol I ordered it on line had it delivered to my local long and mcquade I was # 8 of twenty being released in April also purchased a rd328 recording king both are exceptional instruments one is everything Gibson has to offer and the other covers the Martin stable the recording king was purchased in 2019 aug suffered from Fire damage but survived it has opened up and is brilliant
I have had at least five hundred guitars to date these are keepers can’t wait for the epiphone to get some age to it don’t plan on it going thru the drying the recording king did lol
Sorry to hear about the guitar loss. That must have been rough.
Thanks for watching!
The epiphones made in Kalamazoo were the best. I need one more too haha
I agree Doug. The Kalamazoo Epis were fantastic. They are now building some at the Bozeman Montana factory. Really great, really really expensive 🎸🙏😎
Great review! Now you had it for awhile what strings do you think sound the best on it
Thanks! I use Martin phosphor bronze lights on all my acoustics
@@paulgeorgia8013 do the Martin strings add some volume and clarity to the excellente
@@jefferyclark351 I think they do.
I like them on all my guitars
I highly recommend the Excellente, even at its always increasing market price. I own many high end guitars (Martin, Taylor and other top luthiers) and this guitar holds its own with any of them as a bargain in its price range. It has one major fault. It does not come with a case and Epiphone no longer makes the cases for it. That is a genuine shame. By pure luck, I had already discovered and bought one of the rare 139 cases that came with an original limited edition Excellente prior to this reissue of the Excellente coming on to the market. It is a hard shell case that is leather bound in black leather with brown leather trim. It is, by far, the best guitar case that I own out of 30 top end boutique guitars in my collection. It has the Epiphone name stencilled in gold on the top of the case which matches the gold latches.
Hello Paul
Could you give me the 2 measurements of the width of the shoulders and the bottom of the guitar?
Kind regards
👩Anna👩
Hi Anna,
Sure, I’m happy to.
The bout is 16” and the shoulder is 12”
Best,
Paul
Hello Paul
thank you very much for this detail
Loretta Lynn played one like this for years
Yes, it was her signature model 🎸
Fun looking Epiphone guitar, but for the price point and sound. You can have a much better guitar . . . like Eastman you cant go wrong believe me comes real close too Martin some prefer even the Eastman then Martin or Taylor or little more money buy the Collins. Maybe not so glitter and glamour, but much better sounded and wel made and weight 👊
The problem with this video is the distant sound! I think the acoustics are good. But the distance from the mic is a downer!
Hi Michael, I know, you're right - I am working on upgrading my video/audio quality for these videos. Apologies for the poor sound.
Totally agree...I have one and I have many top brand high end models from Martin, Collings, Gibson, Taylor, and Eastman. No, the Epiphone Excellente does not sound as good as those brands, BUT for the money it is very nice, all solid wood, and well built. It's actually too heavy and overbuilt, which I believe does affect the tone unplugged. Plugged in it is awesome albeit like I said if you gig with it, you better lift weights first to build upper body strength as she's heavy. Overall, beautiful and fun guitar ESPECIALLY at that price. Since it is such a "looker" I use it part of the time for gigging, until the weight gets to me then I switch to something else.
The Epiphone sounds as good as some models of Martin, Gibson, Taylors and Eastman. Its a real stunning guitar, the only thing which is bad about is the horrible fishman sonitone pickup
Do you work for the opposition?
@@thewatcher1120 Nope, I love all of them, they are just all different.
How much? What's a reasonable price?
I lucked out, and got this one for about $800. I see they’re around $1,300 now.
Sounds like mic is too far. Still sounds pretty good.
Agreed. I’m working on getting better audio/video equipment
It sounds like a 12 string. Wow.
Thanks! Thanks for watching!
Lucky to those 1 have a guitar like that. Salute you sir. Me just only watching but don't have anything kind of guitar.
Is it neck heavy?
Actually, the opposite.
The body is quite a bit heavier than most dreadnoghts. I attribute this to the solid ovankol back and sides
@@paulgeorgia8013 i am asking as I have an Hummingbird 12 strings, also masterbuilt. The only issue I have it's neck heavy, probably due to the truss rod, the grover tuners and the light mahogany body. However the sound is great, a notch below my Guild F512 but that costed me 4x times the Epi.
@@alessandrocerioli2151 I just bought an Epi J200 12 string. I’m pretty thrilled with it. I might make a demo video later today. Stay tuned 😎🎸
@@paulgeorgia8013 i tried a 6 strings 200 the day I bought the Hummingbird and to be honest i wasn't impressed, however I'd be curious to know if your 12 strings has an heavy neck too.
@@alessandrocerioli2151 Yes I also had an Epi J200 6 string, didn't like the sound - check out my review video of that. The 12 string is SO much better, and not neck heavy at all. I'm really happy with it.
Epiphone says the neck is walnut and maple..
Yes, probably so. A wrong assumption on my part
@@paulgeorgia8013 l bought the guitar thinking it was ovankol, then a vid l watched said it was rosewood, another saying it was an inlay... I finally found a Epi spec sheet that stated walnut! I was shocked! Such fantastic woods, beautiful mother of pearl... I still can't figure 2 things.. why did they use a plastic feeling poly paint on such a great guitar and second.. why would they put a HUGE, thick, gummy, tone deadening pickgaurd on the sound board deck of the guitar..l removed the massive gaurd and YES it IS noticably BETTER!! What a great guitar..it sounds great WITH the rediculous gaurd to begin with but without it..it's ultra!
@@jameshill2015 Hi James, I don't doubt the pick guard would be reducing the top's vibration. As to why they did it - Because these are faithful replicas of the 1960's USA made Epiphones (that now cost 10s of thousands!). That's just what they were - cowboy guitars with lotsa bling.. lol.. As to the paint, I love it - I think it's amazing they got poly to look like satin nitro.. One must keep in mind that these are sub-$1000 US guitars - Spraying Nitro takes more time and involves a lot of safety issues (Nitro likes to explode like its dynamite cousin).. I take my hat off to Epiphone (and its parent company Gibson) for delivering affordable guitars that give most of what the USA models give that regular folks on regular wages can afford...
Enjoy that Excellente!
Imagine how sound would improve without that big thick plastic pickguard!
Shame that it would detract so much from its beauty.
I know, that’s a bit of controversy, but I just love the look of it, and it still sounds pretty awesome 😎
My friend has an original one from 1963, and I did a side by side sound comparison
To tell the truth, mine sounded better 😎
@@paulgeorgia8013 👀
Play the damn thing 😂
Watch my newer video
45 seconds of playing. 8 minutes lecturing on Epiphone's history and rambling on how Great this Excellente guitar Sounds. If so: Just PLAY THE GUITAR! And - leave this echo chamber/living room, chose a small room with rugs on the floor and some textiles, Also: Put the mic 1 feet in front of the guitar. In other words; Show this Great guitar some Respect. OK?
Watch my more recent videos.
Or, don’t
I'm struggling with mine. It seems dull in volume compared to my martin performance and my takamine FP360. Help me someone??
Keep playing it. It will open up
Also, check the nut slots, they could need a bit of opening up to let the strings vibrate more. Don’t give up, you’ll get a sound out of it
@@paulgeorgia8013 thanks man 👍