Looking at Epi's

[CAFeathers]

So, my wife and I are out looking at guitars and stop at one of the local Guitar Center's. Although I'm a Lefty I always check out some of the Righty guitars. GC has a habit of putting a cluster of guitars on stands for display. Well I spot this Epi Ace Frehley LP model with the 3 pickups, something just doesn't seem right, so I walk away. A few minutes later I'm back in that area and I look again at the Ace Frehley model again, then I spot why it doesn't seem right to me. The neck and middle pickups line up perfectly, but the bridge pickup is about 1/2 inch off to one side. That is quite a big noticable error in this guitar.

We left GC and headed over to another local Guitar Store and they have the same model Epi hanging on their wall, Low and behold the bridge pickup on that one is off too!!!!

Is Epi slipping in their quality control? Shouldn't the pickups line up evenly?

[Steelpriest]

Well, I checked Stratmans Ace Frehley LP which is displayed in our gallery. As far as I can tell from the picture the pickups are in line evenly. Hmm, Chet... I think Epiphone never ever had that proper end control, maybe that´s why so many posts are about odd things like crappy switches, control knobs, etc... If I was looking for an Ace Frehley LP and would come across one of those you´ve seen I´d suggest to knock down the price (100 - 150 $) and fix it myself. Personally I would never order a brandnew Epiphone online. The end control was always sloppy, just my opinion.

[doug]

During shopping for may current Epi LP, I have noticed some quality control issues regarding pickups. Two LPs I was looking at- the neck pickup was routed sloppily, so that the pickup ring was not completely covering the routing hole. Even though it was slight, that unnerved me enough to pass on that guitar.

[supedupviper]

you should go back and check the serial numbers on both guitars to see what factory they were made in.

You cant expect mass produced guitars to be 100% perfect all the time, at least I havent noticed anything wrong with my epis ;D

[Steelpriest]

Well, Ibanez guitars and the Yamaha Pacifica series are mass products, too. I never came across a sloppy guitar even in the lower budget series when it comes to these manufactures... also the more affordable Fender series are obviously checked more carefully before they leave the factory. But I still like my Epiphones! Maybe building guitars with set necks for that price like Epiphone does requieres to save money when it comes to the endcontrols. Don´t ask me... Well, but if you ask me... I would like to pay a little more money, a slightly higher price, if the overall quality was just a little better. I am sure everybody would agree with me.