Review : Epiphone Masterbilt AJ500RE

Epiphone Masterbilt AJ500RE 

I'm a big fan of Epiphone acoustic. This guitar was one of my best. 

I used this Masterbilt AJ500RE about 3years for live stages and recordings until I sold it last year.  

Specifications

* Advanced Jumbo Body (Gibson Style)
* Solid Sitka spruce top

* Solid rosewood back and sides 

* Rosewood fretboard  

* Gold Grover tuners

* eSonic2 stereo preamp with built-in tuner and NanoFlex/NanoMag pickup combination

* Multi-ply binding on top and headstock

* Full body and fretboard binding 

* Bone nut and Saddle
* Plastic Bridge Pins

* 1-piece Mahogany neck 

* SlimTaper D profile 

* Dove-tail Neck Joint   

* 1.68" nut width (narrower than 43mm) 

* 2-3/16" string spacing at the saddle (55mm)

* 25.5” Scale (650mm) 

* 14” Radius fretboard  

* Lower bout : 16"  

* Body Depth : 4.9”

Apperance

Vintage, classic, fascinating beauty.

I like the head design. Natural satin finish is very nice. 

If you are looking for cool looking guitar, this is it!

Build Quality

I can’t see any flaws or issues. Like other major companies, Epiphone did well. Build, Finish, Binding, Fretworks are all flawless. It build like tanks. Only one thing I can complain, It is heavily built with thicker sound board.

Neck Feeling 

It has SlimTaper D profile, but I don’t feel it slim. 1.68” Nut width is not for fingerpickers. 

Sound 

Dynamics ★★★☆☆ 3  (Less punch)

Projection ★★★★☆ 4  (Good enough) 

Clarity ★★★☆☆ 3.5  (Enough. but if you prefer crisp like taylor, it's not for you)

Low-end ★★★★☆ 4  (Nice deep end expression)  

String Balance ★★★☆☆ 3 (High E and B strings are slightly weaker)

Frequency Wide ★★★☆☆ 3.5 (It could be nicer in high end)

Overtones ★★☆☆☆ 2.5 (Some lack of overtones)

Tonal Balance ★★★☆☆ 3.5 (Suitable for most live stages)

Total 27.5 Points

• Full, warm, mellow sound, Nice low-end. 
• High E and B Strings are slightly weaker. It’s better to use Elixir HD gauge, or You can use thicker gauge on high E and B strings. 
• I recommend 80/20 bronze strings than phosphor bronze strings. 
• Bone Bridge Pins Recommened. 

Electronics

Shadow Esonic2 is dual sourced system. You can mix Shadow Nanomag(magnetic) and  Nanoflex(undersaddle) pickup, or get each sources separated. I like Nanoflex sound. detailed, Little bit darker and cooler than fishman. Nanomag is useful, but as many magnetic pickups do, low responses are excessive. 

Esonic2 system has some issue. I think it’s problem in structure inside preamp. The main board inside preamp gets dirt with unidentified liquids when I use, In my case. When you think this system is working not properly, Just clean inside the preamp with erasers. It will be fine.

Conclusion

Epiphone AJ500RE is Very nice workhorse.

If you want crisp one like Taylor, don’t get this. 

Tone is Dark and Mellow. 

Good for Bluegrass, Jazz, Alternative, Singer-songwriter.