Epiphone Wildkat Hollowbody Electric Guitar With Bigsby For Sale (2024 Update)

Based on the CONS people have listed here, after 55 years of playing everything from Folk to Country to Praise and Worship on everything from my first 'cross-the-border, nylon-string classical to the Big Boys' Strats and my big-bowl 1976 Balladeer, I guess I must still be tone deaf and have no feel for an instrument because I liked this guitar from the moment I saw it, felt it, played it, and heard it. Not being the most expensive guitar on the rack, I did not expect it to be perfect. But, I have been greatly and very positively surprised at how close it is to meeting my every criteria. I have a full-size hollow body that cost me a bunch more and the tone variation from Neck PUP to Bridge PUP on the Wildkat is so much better! The volume balance between the PUPs is spot on. However, I purposely did not buy the Bigsby-equipped model: not because of expected tuning issues but because I like a clean appearance and the Bigsby really loads this little guy up! And, replace the P90s with 'buckers? Wow, I bought the Wildkat SPECIFICALLY for the P90s! Seems there is no explaining differences in taste. I applaud you all for your own musical and tonal discernment and for your comments! My summary? If you are looking for a fun guitar with great sound, this is your baby!Brother Lou

I purchased the blue royale model and, there is a review for that one. Super Guitar but, the blue just didn't do it for me so I ended up selling it to a guy that loved the blue color and, he was in heaven and, he a got a nice instrument. It wasn't but a short time and, I started missing the whole guitar except the blue color so I got the wine red Wildkat, I guess I'm kind of a red guy because I have several guitars in shades of red. This wine red color is stunning and, all the chrome hardware is a perfect match. I also have a Riviera in wine red but, it has gold hardware and, this guitar is a thing of beauty in looks and sound but, lets get back to the Wildkat. The semi hollow with the P90's is what sold me in the first place. The Bigsby vibrato is very cool, in all my years of playing I never touched a Bigsby until this one and, I like it very much. I have not had any problems with tuning. With a new guitar the strings must be stretched and, retuned a few times or there will be tuning problems as the same with restringing. Also lube the string slots in the nut and bridge and, that goes for any guitar with a vibrato. I usually use a No2 lead pencil and, run it in the grooves that's it. This is a semi hollow guitar but, it comes very close to being hollow as in the picture I've posted. That's why this guitar has the sound that it does. I've played it through every amp that I have, Fender Twin Reverb to a small practice amp and, it sounds Great through every one. The electronics are a little different but, it doesn't take long to get used to it. I'm always up for a challenge anyway. I am very pleased with this guitar as I was with the blue one but, red is my color. I would highly recommend this guitar to anybody looking for that something different in a guitar as I was. I have noticed that P90's are showing up more and, more with artists on TV, videos and, in magazines, must be a reason! Give it a try, you'll be pleasantly surprised.terrygh

This is really a Great guitar. I was looking for something different, something that I didn't have. A semi hollow with P90's and a Bigsby and, a beautiful color! I had to do a little setup, the normal stuff I always do with any guitar that I own, action, a litttle truss rod tweak, slight adjustment of pickup screws, intonation was perfect, stretched the new strings a few times with retuning and, that was it. Play time! The only way I could get this guitar out of tune was to work at it. Normal playing with string bending and subtle use of the Bigsby which is the way it was meant to be used yeilded Great results and, no tuning issues. The Bigsby is meant to be used like the vibrato on the Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar (subtle) If you're a divebomber with a vibrato get something with a Floyd Rose and, go from there. The P90's definately have a different sound than Humbuckers that's what makes them what they are. If you experience a hum or 60 cycle buzz, be sure your amp is plugged into a grounded receptacle, It does make a difference. Nice feel, Good balance, Vintage sound, these Royale Wildkats are superior made guitars. Highly recommend one if you're looking for that something different guitar. The pic that I posted looks Great but, in person it's stunning!terrygh

Based on the CONS people have listed here, after 55 years of playing everything from Folk to Country to Praise and Worship on everything from my first 'cross-the-border, nylon-string classical to the Big Boys' Strats and my big-bowl 1976 Balladeer, I guess I must still be tone deaf and have no feel for an instrument because I liked this guitar from the moment I saw it, felt it, played it, and heard it. Not being the most expensive guitar on the rack, I did not expect it to be perfect. But, I have been greatly and very positively surprised at how close it is to meeting my every criteria. I have a full-size hollow body that cost me a bunch more and the tone variation from Neck PUP to Bridge PUP on the Wildkat is so much better! The volume balance between the PUPs is spot on. However, I purposely did not buy the Bigsby-equipped model: not because of expected tuning issues but because I like a clean appearance and the Bigsby really loads this little guy up! And, replace the P90s with 'buckers? Wow, I bought the Wildkat SPECIFICALLY for the P90s! Seems there is no explaining differences in taste. I applaud you all for your own musical and tonal discernment and for your comments! My summary? If you are looking for a fun guitar with great sound, this is your baby!Brother Lou

I purchased the blue royale model and, there is a review for that one. Super Guitar but, the blue just didn't do it for me so I ended up selling it to a guy that loved the blue color and, he was in heaven and, he a got a nice instrument. It wasn't but a short time and, I started missing the whole guitar except the blue color so I got the wine red Wildkat, I guess I'm kind of a red guy because I have several guitars in shades of red. This wine red color is stunning and, all the chrome hardware is a perfect match. I also have a Riviera in wine red but, it has gold hardware and, this guitar is a thing of beauty in looks and sound but, lets get back to the Wildkat. The semi hollow with the P90's is what sold me in the first place. The Bigsby vibrato is very cool, in all my years of playing I never touched a Bigsby until this one and, I like it very much. I have not had any problems with tuning. With a new guitar the strings must be stretched and, retuned a few times or there will be tuning problems as the same with restringing. Also lube the string slots in the nut and bridge and, that goes for any guitar with a vibrato. I usually use a No2 lead pencil and, run it in the grooves that's it. This is a semi hollow guitar but, it comes very close to being hollow as in the picture I've posted. That's why this guitar has the sound that it does. I've played it through every amp that I have, Fender Twin Reverb to a small practice amp and, it sounds Great through every one. The electronics are a little different but, it doesn't take long to get used to it. I'm always up for a challenge anyway. I am very pleased with this guitar as I was with the blue one but, red is my color. I would highly recommend this guitar to anybody looking for that something different in a guitar as I was. I have noticed that P90's are showing up more and, more with artists on TV, videos and, in magazines, must be a reason! Give it a try, you'll be pleasantly surprised.terrygh

This is really a Great guitar. I was looking for something different, something that I didn't have. A semi hollow with P90's and a Bigsby and, a beautiful color! I had to do a little setup, the normal stuff I always do with any guitar that I own, action, a litttle truss rod tweak, slight adjustment of pickup screws, intonation was perfect, stretched the new strings a few times with retuning and, that was it. Play time! The only way I could get this guitar out of tune was to work at it. Normal playing with string bending and subtle use of the Bigsby which is the way it was meant to be used yeilded Great results and, no tuning issues. The Bigsby is meant to be used like the vibrato on the Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar (subtle) If you're a divebomber with a vibrato get something with a Floyd Rose and, go from there. The P90's definately have a different sound than Humbuckers that's what makes them what they are. If you experience a hum or 60 cycle buzz, be sure your amp is plugged into a grounded receptacle, It does make a difference. Nice feel, Good balance, Vintage sound, these Royale Wildkats are superior made guitars. Highly recommend one if you're looking for that something different guitar. The pic that I posted looks Great but, in person it's stunning!terrygh

I keep playing, buying, selling, looking for MY guitar. High cost, low cost, Epi, Fender, Gretsch, Spear, Ovation, Martin, Tak. I keep listening and trying. More than reputation, I want TONE. I'm a P90 guy because P90s sing loud and clear – no rumble. So, I bought this Wildkat – P90s, sound, looks, finish, feel, balance. I love it. The volume pots amplify all the way down to "1" which many guitars cannot boast. This may be the guitar I have been searching for. Give me time. We shall see.Lou

A friend of mine bought one of theses and loves it. So I decided to buy one. I got the Gold finish and could not be happier. The set up out of the box was pretty good, the strings being a bit low for my tastes but nice. It has a nice round sound with no fret buzz at all. I played it through different amps and it comes alive through my Marshall. It also sounds really good with the Boss GT-8. This one is a keeper. Don't let the low price fool you, this is a great guitar. Way to go Epi.Fender man

To start, I've been playing guitar for over 26 years & own over 20 guitars. In that time I've played a lot of axes and periodically will add a new one to the collection. I had my eye on this one for quite a while, but the model with the Bigsby was just not for me. (I wasn't interested in the trouble I have with my Gretsch always going out of tune with the Bigsby) So when I saw this one, I knew I needed to try it out. I went to GC & bought this guitar about 6 months ago. The appearance is beautiful. The hardware & guitar body is of excellent quality. (You can feel that it is a quality guitar when you're handling it) The neck is wide, but I like that feel. The things that may be a matter of preference would be the following: (1) The weight of the guitar….it is a quality guitar that makes it a bit heavier than your average axe. (2) The hollow body sound: I personally think it sounds great, but then again, not everyone may agree. (3) The pick-ups. These babies are awesome!! I love them!! Definitely not your dual humbucker or SSS sound. These things are in a league of their own. Again, this may not be to everyone's liking. Conclusion? Great all around guitar at an exceptionally low price. If you've been admiring this beauty from afar, get in to try one out. If you appreciate good classic tone, you'll love this instrument.FreakyBro

I love this Casino. I knew I wanted a P-90, and I really wanted a fully hollow body. I wanted to see if I could replicate a I've been agonizing over the purchase for months, looking for every possible solution, and was almost ready to pull the trigger on the Epi USA version, and after MUCH research, finally decided to go with the regular Epiphone. The construction, from everything I read, is excellent, and I knew that if necessary, I could always switch out the pups. Well, I can't say enough about how good this guitar is! I am extremely fussy on setups (I do setups on my own guitars and for other people) and this thing was ready to play right out of the box! I literally didn't touch a thing except to tune it up. I won't even have to dress the frets. I may touch them up just a bit (again, I'm really fussy) but they feel better than most guitars that cost three times as much. It is really beautiful. I love the vintage sunburst. The finish is flawless. Now for the important part – it plays like a dream. The neck profile is extremely comfortable. I can move up and down the neck as fluidly as on any guitar I own. And the sound! I was amazed at how present it is, even before plugging it in. I see this little sweetheart spending a lot of evenings on the couch with me. Soft enough not to overly bother my wife, but again – very present. Plugged in – well lets just say I won't be replacing these pups. It is exactly the sound I was hoping for. I'm no Grant Green, but I can certainly understand why he loved this guitar. Would I recommend it? Heck yeah! Country? Check. Classic rock? Check. Rockabilly, surf, blues and even jazz? Check, check, check, and check.Jess

Had the money to buy any guitar in the shop. Liked the looks of the SG, worn ebony with rosewood fingerboard and the Gibson speed knobs. Having only played guitars with 9.5 radius, I found the 14 radius was better for bar chords. The craftsmanship is excellent, can find no flaws the body or neck. The truss rod was out of adjustment, considerable back-bow. I fixed that, and set the action low. The intonation was spot on. Frets were polished with no sharp edges. I plan to upgrade the cheap electronics with new pots. As for the pickups, they sound ok. Since I use a modeling amp, not a big issue for me. The nut is a GraphTech synthetic bone. Nice touch for an inexpensive guitar, since i do not like changing them out…too much risk of damage. I have fender Strat and Tele, but have not put this down since purchasing it. Once I upgrade the electronics, this will be a very solid guitar.Jeff

Overall: This is my umpteenth Epiphone custom sg guitar ive bought since the last guitar i had which was the more lower end 61 standard i bought here used last year. The caps pots and Gibson USA burstbuckers are definitely a step up in the right direction and are true to the original reissue Sg standards back in the beginning of the Gibson sg. It sounds like a 2000 dollar Gibson reissue sg but at Epiphone import prices. I intend on keeping this guitar for a lifetime and is a good backup guitar to my similarly pricef esp ltd viper 1000 deluxe i bought a year ago from a competitor in the now disconnected tiger eye finish from zZounds. Lastly i also intend on getting a real Gibson sg custom 63 version used for a discounted price. One more thing i might buy a backup les Paul sg standard by Epiphone just in case this one gets stolen or lost. Thank you Epiphone custom for stepping up your game and making better sg custom shop guitars than in the past. The black Epiphone sg custom with gold hardware is no joke either and i might another one when i get done paying for this Les Paul sg standard first fron here.Isaac

I got this guitar in sparkling burgundy and the finish is beautiful. The workmanship on this guitar is great; it feels very high quality. The fretwork is also really good, with no fret ends sticking out to cut my hands. That being said, the pickups are not very good. I initially debated purchasing the guitar since it sounded very ice-picky and thin when I played it in the store. But I decided to take a chance, knowing the return policy that GC has. I brought it home and the first thing I did was go over it completely. The fretboard was very dry. Even my wife, who doesn't play guitar, looked at it and commented on that. So removed the strings and polished the frets and cleaned/conditioned the fretboard. Then I swapped out the Alnico Classic Pro pickups, which are rather bad, and put in a set of Probucker 2/3 pickups that I had sitting around. Better strings, polished frets, and some nicer alnico 2 pickups made a huge difference. It sounds full and thick and warm, and it plays like an angel. I highly recommend it, as long as you can swap out the pickups.Robert

As with most people, I'm hesitant to buy guitars sight unseen through the mail. But with the current state of the world, that's becoming more and more the norm. Luckily the guitar arrived in absolutely perfect condition and set up nicely. The Red is really deep and rich. I know it's cliche, but the pictures really don't do it justice. I've been on a quest all these years for a guitar with a neck that properly fits my small hands and extremely short thumbs (nearly impossible to roll my thumb over the top of the neck ala Hendrix). I was torn between the Sheraton and the Casino, but decided on the Sheraton. When the next 48 month 0% promotion rolls around I may get the Casino as well. The tone of the Sheraton is very surprising for this price range. I also own a Clapton Strat (almost 3 times the price), and I absolutely enjoy the sound of the Sheraton more, as hard as that might be to believe. Obviously that is subjective. However, the place the Sheraton really shines for me is the neck! It fits my hands better than any other guitar I've ever played. Rolling my thumb over the top still isn't an easy proposition, but at least it's in reach (no pun intended), and with some practice I'll eventually get there. On the Strat it was impossible. I mainly play on the neck pickup, and it has a nice creamy, warm sound combined with my Blues Deluxe Reissue. I've never owned a 335 type guitar, as I always thought they were for jazz, but this guitar is very versatile. It's still a crapshoot with ordering through the mail, but I highly recommend the Sheraton if you (like me) can't afford a Gibson.Patrick B

Overall: Ive had this guitar a little over 24 hours now and cant put it down!! I got the blemished wine red model and the only blemish it had was a smidge of paint got on the binding where it meets the neck, i mean you had to really look close to see it and zZounds being the grandslam hitters that they are knocked 100 bucks off the price!!!I recieved it in a 1 1/2 days ( doesnt get any faster than that) and straight out of the box the action was perfect the intonation was spot on! The D string was maybe a cent out of tune. The guitar in wine red with the gold hardware is visually stunning, build quality you ask? Its built like a tank from the grover tuners, bone nut, loctone bridge and tail piece with a 3 way toggle you can litterally abuse and the probuckers sound amaZzing in full humbucker and coil split. This is a 1,000 + quitar with an intermediate price tag! Got to take a minute to shout out to the guys and gals at zZounds this is the third guitar that ive bought from them and they just keep knockin it out of the park!!! I will never shop for a guitar any where else you guys are first ballad hall of famers all the way!!! If your sick of the used car salesman approach and being followed around the lot, zZounds is the answer, they are the most professional ive ever dealt with period. Whem the extura prophesy in purple burst gets in stock, put one back for me, that is my next purchaseTommy

I have always wanted a 335, but did not like the larger size. I saw this 339 and stepped up and bought it home. Had to wait 6 weeks, but was it ever worth it. This is the best guitar I have ever played or been around. Cannot make my mind up if it plays better than it looks, or if it looks better then it sounds. It came set up really well, intonation and all. All I had to do was tune it and go. Cannot find one flaw in the paint, assembly or anything wrong at all. It rings so true, holds a note and there is a major difference when selecting either pickup or both, and the tone and volume controls lets you have an infinite setting control on tone and volume. Set the bridge to really ring out and the neck one a little muddy and together it is killer, but can flip the switch and brighten a solo up good. An absolute joy to play. Just strike your favorite chord and let it ring…beautiful fun. I was worried about the neck thickness, but it is a non issue. Easy to chord, simple to fret in any way you please. I cannot express just how happy I am with this guitar. Michael at musicians friend was a great help in every way getting it here.Keith

Very comfortable to hold and play, with a slightly chunky neck which is my preference. Combines the best aspects of 335s and Les Pauls. It's also heavier than I thought it would be (again for me a good thing, I don't like feather-light guitars) I was expecting SG weights and annoying neck dive. As suggested already it seems to sound somewhere between a full-sized 335 type and a solid body, which again isn't much of a surprise. Seems to have more twang than my LP which is good for my taste, which is more soul and funk. The finish is also perfect, though slightly different to the one advertised at the time of purchase. The neck fades into a natural varnish rather than the all-black paint. Also the sides are solid natural varnish rather than the fading between black and natural effect.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Mine is a sunburst 2013 made in China. Maybe I got lucky, but mine plays and sounds great, and the fit and finish is excellent. This is a not a premium guitar. This shows primarily in the fretwork, which look a little rough, but other than one slightly high fret, no issues. The paint job on mine is fine, the tuners are solid (Grovers) and the pickups sound great. The coil tapped sounds are a bit weak, but that's usually the case in my experience. I see a lot of complaints about the pickups being angled – this is a problem on all ES guitars – even Gibsons. There are various ways to resolve this, if it's an issue for you. I was going to do something about it, but then realized that I don't really care. I like how it sounds – I lowered the pickups away from the strings until they were balanced – but if it becomes an issue in the future I'll figure out what to do. I really like the 339 size. It's comfortable and really fun to play. I had to raise the action to make it to my liking. The neck is a nice D shape, I like chunky necks and this is good enough, there's a reasonable amount of heft to it, but it's not huge by any means. Any mass produced guitar will have duds. It's unfortunate that some people have had negative experiences with these. I also own an Epiphone Hummingbird – a guitar which I love, but I had to have the saddle relocated by about 1/8" so that it would intonate properly. Not ideal, but now it's right and that guitar will outlive me.Mr. AF

Bought the ES 339 online in early April. My initial impression after playing it for a day was that it is a great guitar for the price. The only negative I found was that the frets were a bit 'rough', but they seemed to smooth up as I played so I wasn't too concerned. After spending almost a month playing this guitar I have to say I am less impressed now than I was initially. There have been a few small issues, some of which you might expect in a lower end guitar, but I was hoping this one would be the exception. First, the little Epiphone emblem on the pickguard started peeling up within a few days of getting the guitar. No big deal, it doesn't really ad anything so I just peeled it the rest of the way off. But still, this is a brand new guitar. Then, while changing strings the second time (did I mention I've played this quite a bit?) I noticed the tuner for the high E string was becoming harder to turn than the others. It still turned, but the difference was noticeable. I emailed tech support to ask about it, and the tech suggested I try loosening the tension screw, and if that didn't work he would send me a replacement (I can do many guitar repairs myself, so was going to return it just to replace a machine head). I couldn't find what he was talking about, but did remove the tuner and gave it a good oiling, which seemed to resolve the problem. Now the E string tends to go out of tune more often, but that could be because I unwound/rewound the string, so I'm not ready to call that a failure yet. Now, just in the past few days, I've started noticing the pickup selector switch is making an 'static' noise when switching pickups… Again, none of these are huge problems, but taken together point to a bit of lack of quality IMO. Maybe I was just expecting too much from a sub – 500 guitar. As it is, I will hang on to it, fix the things that need fixing, and use it when a want a nice, clean sounding guitar.ERinVA

I love this guitar. It is probably the best for-the-money guitar deal I ever came across. One minor flaw is that I can sometimes detect a little scratchy sound when I flip the selector switch. Very subtle but it's there about half the time. Other than that, it looks, feels, and sounds like the finely crafted instrument it is. No sharp fret ends, the pickups are loud and evenly matched, with plenty of tone variation available. I bought the cherry red finish, which is much more appealing than the photos tend to show. The color is rich and deep, and the wood grain shows through beautifully. Most photos I have seen on-line tend to make the guitar look solid red and plain. It isn't. I'm by no means a tech so I won't even try to get into the finer points of measurements and intonation. I bought mine at Guitar Center so I was spared any out-of-the-box surprises. It stays in tune all the way up the neck, where I spend a lot of time. High-ish action doesn't bother me, though some may like it a little lower than mine came with. The 339 P90 has it's own character and delivers that hot P90 growl I thought I would have to buy a classic SG to find. A side by side comparison to my CV Tele found the pickups to be louder and, unlike the bucker version, perfectly balanced. Best of all, I found that setting the pickup selector to the center position and rolling to tone knobs to their midpoints I could get the pleasing mellow chord tones I wanted from a semi-hollow. Would a legit jazz player agree? Probably not, but I'm satisfied. I would prefer a 50s style neck, or the asymetrical neck offered on the LP Tribute, but this one is comfortable enough and, for the money, I know I made the right choice.William

Mine is a sunburst 2013 made in China. Maybe I got lucky, but mine plays and sounds great, and the fit and finish is excellent. This is a not a premium guitar. This shows primarily in the fretwork, which look a little rough, but other than one slightly high fret, no issues. The paint job on mine is fine, the tuners are solid (Grovers) and the pickups sound great. The coil tapped sounds are a bit weak, but that's usually the case in my experience. I see a lot of complaints about the pickups being angled – this is a problem on all ES guitars – even Gibsons. There are various ways to resolve this, if it's an issue for you. I was going to do something about it, but then realized that I don't really care. I like how it sounds – I lowered the pickups away from the strings until they were balanced – but if it becomes an issue in the future I'll figure out what to do. I really like the 339 size. It's comfortable and really fun to play. I had to raise the action to make it to my liking. The neck is a nice D shape, I like chunky necks and this is good enough, there's a reasonable amount of heft to it, but it's not huge by any means. Any mass produced guitar will have duds. It's unfortunate that some people have had negative experiences with these. I also own an Epiphone Hummingbird – a guitar which I love, but I had to have the saddle relocated by about 1/8" so that it would intonate properly. Not ideal, but now it's right and that guitar will outlive me.Mr. AF

Bought the ES 339 online in early April. My initial impression after playing it for a day was that it is a great guitar for the price. The only negative I found was that the frets were a bit 'rough', but they seemed to smooth up as I played so I wasn't too concerned. After spending almost a month playing this guitar I have to say I am less impressed now than I was initially. There have been a few small issues, some of which you might expect in a lower end guitar, but I was hoping this one would be the exception. First, the little Epiphone emblem on the pickguard started peeling up within a few days of getting the guitar. No big deal, it doesn't really ad anything so I just peeled it the rest of the way off. But still, this is a brand new guitar. Then, while changing strings the second time (did I mention I've played this quite a bit?) I noticed the tuner for the high E string was becoming harder to turn than the others. It still turned, but the difference was noticeable. I emailed tech support to ask about it, and the tech suggested I try loosening the tension screw, and if that didn't work he would send me a replacement (I can do many guitar repairs myself, so was going to return it just to replace a machine head). I couldn't find what he was talking about, but did remove the tuner and gave it a good oiling, which seemed to resolve the problem. Now the E string tends to go out of tune more often, but that could be because I unwound/rewound the string, so I'm not ready to call that a failure yet. Now, just in the past few days, I've started noticing the pickup selector switch is making an 'static' noise when switching pickups… Again, none of these are huge problems, but taken together point to a bit of lack of quality IMO. Maybe I was just expecting too much from a sub – 500 guitar. As it is, I will hang on to it, fix the things that need fixing, and use it when a want a nice, clean sounding guitar.ERinVA

I love this guitar. It is probably the best for-the-money guitar deal I ever came across. One minor flaw is that I can sometimes detect a little scratchy sound when I flip the selector switch. Very subtle but it's there about half the time. Other than that, it looks, feels, and sounds like the finely crafted instrument it is. No sharp fret ends, the pickups are loud and evenly matched, with plenty of tone variation available. I bought the cherry red finish, which is much more appealing than the photos tend to show. The color is rich and deep, and the wood grain shows through beautifully. Most photos I have seen on-line tend to make the guitar look solid red and plain. It isn't. I'm by no means a tech so I won't even try to get into the finer points of measurements and intonation. I bought mine at Guitar Center so I was spared any out-of-the-box surprises. It stays in tune all the way up the neck, where I spend a lot of time. High-ish action doesn't bother me, though some may like it a little lower than mine came with. The 339 P90 has it's own character and delivers that hot P90 growl I thought I would have to buy a classic SG to find. A side by side comparison to my CV Tele found the pickups to be louder and, unlike the bucker version, perfectly balanced. Best of all, I found that setting the pickup selector to the center position and rolling to tone knobs to their midpoints I could get the pleasing mellow chord tones I wanted from a semi-hollow. Would a legit jazz player agree? Probably not, but I'm satisfied. I would prefer a 50s style neck, or the asymetrical neck offered on the LP Tribute, but this one is comfortable enough and, for the money, I know I made the right choice.William

Value: This guitar and others in the Epiphone line at this price point to $100 more are excellent value for money. If you need a set up and want to replace something, you still come out well under the price of the Gibson equivalent. The Wow Factor: It's different. It has character. It's sexy in It's own way. Just like me, haha 😉 Overall: It's been long years since I had an Explorer, mostly playing acoustics and Teles for a long time. I wanted humbuckers and a flatter fretboard than what Fender typically supplies, so I tried just about every Gibson and Epiphone model I could get my hands on. There were some contenders: LPs, 335s/Sheratons, even SGs which I never really cared for but was pleasantly surprised. None really felt comfortable to hold or play, all other factors being equal. Nostalgia called me back to the Explorer. It's big, drips with character and attitude, and is so easy to play sitting down or standing. If Gibson had a korina-bodied reissue model, I would have gone with that. The Olive Drab Green stood out to me, not positively at first, but I kept coming back to it. At this price, I could afford to upgrade everything from pickups to tuners for less than the price of a Gibson model. So, I pulled the trigger with zZounds because of their payment plan and great customer service.That being said, I had a few QC issues with the first one zZounds sent. It was shipped only in the box Epiphone packages them in, which got squished and shorted out the selector switch, and the neck was VERY bendy, like rubber spaghetti. zZounds was very cool about everything and I got a replacement in short order. It came with a box around the Epiphonr box, everything worked, and the neck was much more stable. It had some minor fret sprout in the upper frets, but that was the only issue.The guitar itself plays great, and the ProBucker pickups really push my amps. The bridge pickup is especially nice, but I plan on replacing them down the line with something with more clarity and definition like I've grown accustomed to from playing twangy Telecasters for so long. The ProBuckers are NOT muddy, dull cheap pickups like you would expect from an affordable sister company. The neck is probably the least articulate, even for a neck pickup, but it can still put out some great tones when pedals and amps are dialed in. Suitable for rhythm parts. Middle position is probably my go to, with the neck rolled back to 6-7, the bridge at 8-9, and tone at full tilt. The bridge pickup is excellent at driving leads and solos with the tone at 7-8 or at maximum. My first non-maple or ebony fretboard, I was well pleased with the Indian laurel. A bit of lemon oil conditioning was needed to bring it from Sahara dry to non-gritty playability. A couple of frets need some polishing to bring back in line, but nothing makes it unplayable. Just a little TLC and refinement, like any new guitar, and you're ready to rock and roll. So to speak. About versatility, the Explorer is a dark horse. Decades of hard rock and metal guitarists using them gives them a stigma, but they can play anything from blues and jazz to rock to metal if you fiddle with the knobs and get your pedals and amps dialed in correctly. My tastes are eclectic, and I wouldn't have bought or kept this guitar if I couldn't get the sounds I wanted out of it. Things I would like to see: push-pull coil splitting, a quieter selector switch, regular pickup soldering instead of quick connects, and a better-cared-for/out-of-the-box fretboard. Honestly, it was dry enough to be used for kindling.What I really liked: playability, fit of parts, very decent ProBucker pickups, Tusq nut, and the color. The Olive Drab Green gives a military/Cold War vibe that I love, and the poly finish is going to be able to handle years of my clumsiness and abuse and still look good. Say what you will about poly finishes, but they will survive the nuclear apocalypse.Jefferson

I bought this guitar 8 months ago and now have run it thru it’s paces. What a great instrument this is. I compared my Epiphone to my Gibson Explorer and honestly the sound on the Epi is right there. My Gibson is mahogany as opposed to the Limba on the Epi but the Epi still holds its own. The Epiphone is lighter and has a sweet, solid attack with a rich mid range that sings. The neck is super straight, the fit and finish is beautiful and hardware is great. The pickups are very sweet however I replaced mine with Pro Buckers to darken the sound slightly. The original pickups are great but with my rig I like the darker Alnico 2 sound. In my opinion the difference between the Pro Bucker and Classic pickups are the magnets. Not a lot of difference in output. Other changes I made were a white pick guard, CTS pots and bumblebee capacitors but upgrading these guitars is the best part. Stock it’s fantastic and adding a few new parts is just a joy ride. I consider this guitar completely ready for professional performances all the way.Roger

What can you say? Epiphone has always made a good guitar, even before they became part of the Gibson family. The Epiphone SG and Les Paul models are top notch guitars, and are a great value for the price. So if you're looking for a good starter electric guitar, I recommend Epiphone all the way.krimzo_96

Great guitar, looks good, plays quite easily. Barely had to tweak it at all. A lot more economical than a Gibson(most don't realize it isn't.) I am very happy with this guitar and would recommend it to anyone who wants quality on a budget.richa.schau

I am a professional musician and play 5 days a week — I play my Epiphone SG full time. I don't have to take my Gibson 335, Les Paul, SG or Tele. This guitar holds it's own with any of them. I've been a player for 50 years. Highly recommend…musiclane301

This is a fantastic and very versatile guitar for the money. It looks like a tart's boudoir – almost over the top with all that gold and red, but that's somehow 'right' even for me who usually likes things understated. Great sustain, sweet cleans and a surprisingly aggressive 70s sounding bark with a bit of gain. its Mini Probuckers are the business! It's a fraction bigger than a Les Paul, and surprisingly light. The finish is better than most guitars in a similar price range – frets are good, finish almost faultless bar one or two very minor binding imperfections on the f holes and the masking of the side of the neck where it joins the body, but seriously, these are micro issues. Setup out of the box was close to perfect but action a tad too high – lowered it to my taste and it is now perfect.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Really amazing for the money – I've owned many US-made guitars from top-notch manufacturers and the quality of construction and finish on this one is immaculate. Not only that but it's a very well-designed instrument too, stylish and decently ergonomic for a semi. Perfect for providing a bit of jazz mojo. On the basis of my experience with this one, if I was in the market for a Les Paul I'd be looking for an Epi, not a Gibson. I've owned two Gibson Les Pauls and a Gibson SG and none of them was as well-made as this. One thing I don't like about this guitar – playing it for a while tends to make your fingertips go black. I suspect the ebony fingerboard has been stained. But it's mirror smooth (and the inlays are the nicest I've seen on a budget guitar) so I'm inclined to forgive that one foible. Good stuff.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Superb tone Appearance of course stunning Faultlessly made of high quality material Firebird pickups A2 dual mags Grover’s 18:1 fine accurate tuning Full neck a bit 1958 335 It’ll sing when fully setup Wish I’d known it was on its way! No one told me .. 🧐Mike S.

Overall: Gone are the days of buying an Epiphone for the bones and upgrading everything.Out of the box, the bass side action was pretty high. 3 turns of a screw driver and a retune and it's perfection.Sweet, sustaining tones. The neck pickup is thick and rich, the bridge pickup bites with nice midrange.I have the Iced Tea finish and it is flawless.It's pretty loud, acoustically as well.The fingerboard is a nice, even, dark chocolatey color. There are no sharp frets, and the frets themselves are smooth and there's no grittiness when you bend a string.The tuners feel like quality.the right amount of resistance when you turn the key,.very smooth tuning.This guitar holds tune amazingly well. The nut is cut very, very well. I just spent an hour bending the hell out of notes and it's still perfectly in tune.Even the strings that come with It are decent.If this was my only guitar (it's not, I own over 20 lol), I would be happy.If you've got less than $600 to spend and you want a high quality guitar, this is the one.Now, can it be made better with some upgrades?Maybe. We shall see. It's very easy to swap out the tailpiece for a lightweight aluminum one, the studs for locking steel studs, and the inserts for steel inserts. You can even find brass saddles that fit this bridge perfectly if you know where to look, as well as steel thumbwheel posts. Throw on some locking tuners while you've got it apart, and Bob's yer auntie.This one is a keeper. And with a 12 month payment plan? I'd only have to sell plasma twice a month to pay for it!Cody

Most reissues are too different in materials and build to resemble their predecessors, but this is an inexpensive design that has been affectionately and sensitively reproduced. The P90 is very warm and balanced, with sweet harmonics abounding. It is easy to spot the Chinese hardware, but the workmanship and fit and finish are very good. The simple controls are sufficient. This is a classic reproduction of a classic guitar. Mine needs a fret level and could probably use some work on the nut.Urthona

I bought the vintage aged sunburst version. The aged cream binding looks vintage but as far as the aging process it just looks like another satin finish to me. the build quality was fine except for fret sprouting on the entire fretboard. The rest of the guitar looked fine. The set-up from the factory was fairly good considering it was shipped on a cargo ship from China and the sat in a non-humidified / non-climate controlled warehouse.Jeffery

I purchased this guitar in the sunburst color which Sam Ash was selling at a lower price than the Cherry. The sunburst color looked much nicer in person than I expected and I am very pleased with the appearance with no noticeable blemishes. The tuners work well and hold tune fine. The pickup and electronics also sound good. The two things that I did find that needed some attention were the plastic nut (bad -I replaced it with a bone nut) and some sharp fret ends which I filed and polished. Over all this a great guitar for the money, it plays very well and I am very happy with it! I would definitely buy this guitar again!Cary

Sound: Stock pickups are very hot. So, not as articulate (less dynamics) as they could be if wound a lot less. Also, be prepared for sympathetic ringing. It’s the nature of the beast when dealing with this type of bridge. I used a piece of dense foam that is almost invisible between the bridge and tailpiece to solve the ringing. Features: Has all the bits you’d expect on this classic Ease of Use: I love the neck shape and upper fret access Quality: My only gripe was the ground wire that popped off a pot. It was the wire that connected the jack ground and the rest of the guitar which made it electrically buzz more than single coils normally do. Value: Fantastic value. Even if you gut it and upgrade everything, you will have saved enough on the original purchase to easily afford upgrading parts with top shelf components such as pickups, tuners and nut. Manufacturer Support: No issues The Wow Factor: A Casino in cherry? It’s a classic look. Overall: I liked the specs on the es-339 but didn’t like the neck shape and I wanted p90s. I played a regular Casino at the local store and liked the neck shape but upper fret access was limited. The Casino Coupe has given me all the specs I wanted.I expected to have to do some upgrades on such a low priced guitar. I knew what I wanted and so, after adjusting the action and playing it stock for a few weeks, I first upgraded the pickups. GFS p90 set and black knobs = $80. Next up, Tusq nut and Hipshot locking tuners = another $80. Now, this guitar is EXACTLY what I wanted and still under $700 total but outplays other guitars costing FAR more. The next cheapest hollow body that plays this well are D’Angelicos at $799. Alas, zZounds has a limited selection on those. I’m glad I got the Casino. After the D’Angelicos, the only guitars that I like as much as my Casino cost over $1400. I’ve put my time and half that amount into this Epi and couldn’t be happier.If I wanted to keep it cheap and gig with it, I’d have probably just upgraded the nut and pickups and stopped there. Maybe even just the nut and used the stock pups for high distortion or fuzz only, hehe. My only gripe is that when I removed the electronics to install new pickups, I found a bad ground wire that caused extra buzzing. Between that and being too hot of a wind for my liking, the pickups were a must change item. That said, I measured the tone caps, all the pots and inspected the wiring. Other than the ground that popped off the pot (common issue) and the very hot pickups, the electronics all measured within specs. Even the wiring looked and solder just fine. No need to upgrade to a high priced harness, not worth it.I finally have the hollow body that I’ve wanted for many years. Thanks to zZounds payment plans and a few parts, I got it!Tony

A well built fully-hollow small semi acoustic. It's smaller that a standard casino…only slightly bigger than a Les Paul. Build, hardware, electrics are all good for the price. It sounds great with a distinctively woody sound and is very light. Only let down by very microphonic pickups. Not a problem at lower volume but any overdive is a problem.Much debate online about this, it is definitely the metal pickup covers that cause a loud squeal. It was easily fixed by carefully stuffing some high density foam between the pickups and covers.mistercanetoad

The Wow Factor: Is this a guitar for beginners? Sure…but get a professional set-up. Hollow-bodies, in my experience, "fight back" a little more than a semi-hollow, or LP/SG/Tele/Strat I've played and that can be off putting to beginners. P-90's hum too, it's just the way it is from the design of the pickup. If this would bother you, the Epi 339 is a great little guitar. A good set-up and this guitar plays as comfortably as any of my guitars that cost 3-4 as much. Quality and build wise, it's the equal to any recent electric I played or owned that cost up to $1K…after a good set-up. Overall: Love this guitar! Punches far above it's class, but you'll need to probably tweak a few things first.Instead of starting out with what I love, everyone does, here's the cons I had:Frets needed a little leveling. Not much…but three did, which for a guitar in this price range isn't bad. But one was noticeable right away, the other 2 frets I probably would have wouldn't noticed until I really got in there with a detailed setup. I can dress and level frets, so this isn't an issue with me at all, if you can't take that into consideration. One tuner needed to be replaced. The high E tuner had about an 1/8 of a turn's worth of slack before engaging….but it held tune just fine. I have spares…again for me no big deal, YMMV. The nut cut is cut a little high, but it's still within the norm. Bridge rattle…well if you've ever owned an Epi or Gibson you expect this. It annoys me so the bridge was replaced. For new buyers of an Epi, it's only heard when played unplugged, you won't hear it thru the amp.The pros:I bought this guitar strictly to put a pair of Lollars I have into another older Casino. I've got a very well made '95 MIK from the Pearless era…and the nut width of the guitar is way too narrow to comfortably play. This neck is fairly beefy. If you've played a Les Paul with the 60's taper for example, the D shape will be more of a handful but isn't a baseball bat at all.The build on this guitar over all is the equal to what it's replacing. The finish is flawless. The original wiring and pickups were good. I did play the stock pickups for a week…they sound good. I like lower output P-90's, these are a little hotter but still sound good. The smaller body seems to feedback a little less.The smaller body also makes this a VERY comfortable couch guitar…and it weighs almost nothing. Slight neck dive, my full size Casino has more. The Pau Ferro board on mine is pretty dark…I honestly thought it was Rosewood when I unboxed it.Sounds fairly decent unplugged when you're on the sofa without an amp.David

I wanted the Extura Prophecy when it first came out, unfortunately like many of us reading this, it was pretty hard to come by. So I joined the waiting list on 4 different music store websites and AMS got them first, but I bought a Schecter E-1 SLS while on the waiting list. I own a barrage of Explorer style and an actual Explorer. The Extura's action is set-up a lot like my 1983 is. The bridge and action is set higher than most typical Epiphones, but plays very easily. It has the '59 style LP fat neck, which I prefer, the older I get the less picky I am I guess, but a great comparison to it would be the Epiphone Les Paul Custom, whereas the Schecter has a fast neck, and lower action kind of like the Peavey Rotor EXP Vandenberg. As far as weights between the two they are almost identical. Now the sore subject for most connoisseurs, the Fishmans Fluence Pick-ups. I did not know what to expect of them until my Schecter arrived. When paired with my HeadRush Pedalboard it produces amazing tones and sustains. I've had the Twin for at least 6 months, another item I purchased from AMS, and I am still learning what they can do. It literally goes from the Ibanez Destroyer DTT700 DiMarzio D Activator-X distorted signal to the cloth pushback neck pickup of a Fender Strat, and everything in between. Both guitars have them, and I really recommend them. The Extura's pick-ups sound exceptionally bright, and the string to pickup height is not at the typical 5/64th's of an inch. It takes a little getting used to, but if you ever owned or played a Bronze series B.C. Rich in the mid to late 80's you know exactly what I am talking about, it's the same feel. Right now I have been playing the Extura extensively until I can figure out what I hate about it, and I go and buy my next adventure. So far it's been 95% positive, the electronics were a little wonky at first, right out of the box (it was 13°F when the guitar arrived and it sat in the box to come up to temperature for 24 hours before I even unpacked it), but as I worked the toggle switch, everything appears fine. When I get it on stage will be the true test, the heat of the lights, and my super acidic sweat will determine how it fairs, I literally change strings after every show, but as I said it will be the true test. Oh, is it the Schecter E-1 SLS Evil Twin Killer, no they are definitely two distinctly different animals, each with their own traits, but they sure do sound a lot a like.Brett

Satin neck is slick. Thats good. Pickup kickass except when i pull pots for Hot p90 single coil they have huge, swailing feedback through my Katana 100 mkii. Could be fun but i recoiled instantly from horror and pushed the pot back in. P90 like pickup Fishman Fluence could be a flaw. Need to try again when alone. The fret work is amazing. Flaws. The Tone pot is twisted on. It is fitted slightly crooked. Pots have a sensitive volume and tone swell. Beautiful- purple tiger flame satin paint is really nice. Dont regret. Five star. Fishman Fluence pickups are articulate and clean. Raunchy as well.Bloodyglove

Overall: The Epiphone Broadway is a well-appointed instrument that would be a bargain at twice the price. I've been playing guitar for almost 30 years and I've owned many guitars that cost five times more than the Broadway. I am pleasantly surprised – shocked, even – than an instrument THIS good is available at such a reasonable price point.Aesthetically, the Broadway is gorgeous out of the box. The vintage natural polyurethane finish is glossy and durable, though lacks the traditional charm of nitrocellulose. A heavy poly coat prevents the Broadway's hollow body from resonating optimally, though this is likely only an issue for very, very picky aficionados. The headstock inlay and Art Deco fingerboard inlays are beautiful and precisely installed. Tonally, the Broadway is responds extremely well to heavier flatwound strings. Simple truss rod, saddle, and bridge adjustments are all that's needed to accommodate flatwounds. Even with heavy strings (12+) the Broadway's action stays low and playable, with no fret buzz. Chords ring cleanly and single-note runs are articulate – both acoustically and when plugged in. Grover tuners are accurate and reliable, and the fret dressing is impeccable from the factory. The slim-taper 60s neck is substantive yet never unwieldy, though I'm accustomed to playing large necks on Les Pauls and 335s. Jumping from a Telecaster to a Broadway may feel like work for beginners.The stock pickups are good, though not as articulate as USA-made PAF replicas. The bridge pickup is understandably thin – but who uses a giant jazz guitar with the bridge pickup? The neck pup provides warm, round tones that respond incredibly well to variances in pick attack. Too dark? Use an acrylic pick. Too bright? Lean toward casein, acetate, or wood picks. Overall, I am thrilled with Epiphone's recent quality control improvements and couldn't be happier with my Broadway. It's not an acoustic archtop: don't expect it to be one. Though if you're looking for an affordable way to dip your toes into Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, or Grant Green style tones, the Broadway will get you much of the way there with cash to spare.Aaron

This is probably one of the best sounding guitars for jazz ever made. I own an L5 and this thing is right up there with it. I usually play the Broadway more because I like the neck better than the L5. It has a sound second to none and will not disappoint any jazz aficionado. I own two of these guitars. One I customized and replaced the pickups and the other is stock. Buy one and see for yourself. It's a guitar you won't want to put down.mwpv11

Overall: I have been anticipating the arrival of the Vintage Natural finish on this guitar for several months. The cosmetic choice was simply to have a different look than another guitar I already own. When it launched, there were few photos to get a good picture of the oversll look and construction. Then, a couple of weeks ago, zZounds loaded the set of pics I was waiting to see. I was skeptical. The guitar looks okay in the photos. I was sitting on the fence. There are a few different L-5’s I’m leaning toward but want to make sure before dropping that kind of coin. I noticed in the rear headstock shot the Made in China sticker. I was gonna let it go and move on. And, almost did. I recently picked up a Wine Red Joe Pass Emperor II Pro from zZounds (Made in Indonesia) and was thoroughly impressed. I love it! I’ve been playing it almost as much as the tried and true that I’m used to playing. So, I thought, ahh what the heck, why not?I ordered the Broadway on a Saturday night and it arrived Tuesday morning. I was pleased… I tried to stay calm and give it a chance. I cleaned the factory newness off with a finish cloth and tuned ‘er up and slowly started to get the feel for my new family member. What the hell, who am I kidding. For the price it is a great buy!I am sorry for having been a snob about Chinese guitars. This one got me. The fit and finish is on a par with some American models in the same and slightly higher price range. But, more importantly, the design is a classic archtop acoustic electric that is carried off to near pefection in this model. I do own an L-5 and it would be unfair to compare the two head to head. But, that’s not the point. The point is playability and joy. This guitar is an absolute joy. It has a voice all its own and the action is so light. I played her for about 4 hours on the first sitting. I wiped her down and put her on her new stand in the family. I came back to the zZounds website to see what I missed.. why didn’t I see the beauty of this guitar. I started reading the specs, all over again… I don’t know how many times I read them before ordering. And then, I crossed the reviews and saw there were none. I’m not big on expreesing my opinion on instruments. Each has it’s own personality and value and, as the old saying goes, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.I felt compelled to write this review, not only as praise of this instrument but, to admit how wrong I was with a pre-conceived notion that a guitar made in China would somehow be inferior… Boy, I was wrong!And, I am grateful to admit it.Gary

Well I really like the Epiphone vintage reissues and Epiphone coronet could not miss my guitar collection. Great looks,sound is pretty much what I expected it to be and of course a quality product.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Received this guitar in great condition. It did need minor setup as would be expected. The guitar was finished very nicely and even had a rolled fret job on fretboard. I did pull the pickups and wiring covers while setting it up and it does have CTS pots with hand soldered point to point wiring as advertised. Plays great and the P-90 sounds awesome. Epiphone did a great job at reproducing this pre 62 Coronet. That being said, they used the post 62 compensated wrap around tailstop bridge which was a nice touch.Happy Go Eppie

Overall: I have purchased a lot of guitars in my life, many from you all. Let me say, that this Epiphone Coronet(red cherry), blows a lot of them away. I'm talking Fender, and Gibson alike. I mean, $399.99! Give me a break! I think it could probably go for $599.99 easily. i wouldn't be surprised to see the price go up eventually ,Anyway, I digress. First of all, right out of the box, the action was almost perfect. Intonation seemed to be pretty decent as well. The fret ends were not sharp at all( unlike some of the fenders I have purchased), and they are polished nicely. The P-90 screams, even through my little pig nose amp. Unbelievable. I would highly recommend this guitar to anyone, pro, am, beginner, anybody.(P.S. – get the cherry finish, the wood looks good under the red cherry.Epiphone hit a home run with this oneSincerely, Sande ProtichSande

I keep playing, buying, selling, looking for MY guitar. High cost, low cost, Epi, Fender, Gretsch, Spear, Ovation, Martin, Tak. I keep listening and trying. More than reputation, I want TONE. I'm a P90 guy because P90s sing loud and clear – no rumble. So, I bought this Wildkat – P90s, sound, looks, finish, feel, balance. I love it. The volume pots amplify all the way down to "1" which many guitars cannot boast. This may be the guitar I have been searching for. Give me time. We shall see.Lou

A friend of mine bought one of theses and loves it. So I decided to buy one. I got the Gold finish and could not be happier. The set up out of the box was pretty good, the strings being a bit low for my tastes but nice. It has a nice round sound with no fret buzz at all. I played it through different amps and it comes alive through my Marshall. It also sounds really good with the Boss GT-8. This one is a keeper. Don't let the low price fool you, this is a great guitar. Way to go Epi.Fender man

To start, I've been playing guitar for over 26 years & own over 20 guitars. In that time I've played a lot of axes and periodically will add a new one to the collection. I had my eye on this one for quite a while, but the model with the Bigsby was just not for me. (I wasn't interested in the trouble I have with my Gretsch always going out of tune with the Bigsby) So when I saw this one, I knew I needed to try it out. I went to GC & bought this guitar about 6 months ago. The appearance is beautiful. The hardware & guitar body is of excellent quality. (You can feel that it is a quality guitar when you're handling it) The neck is wide, but I like that feel. The things that may be a matter of preference would be the following: (1) The weight of the guitar….it is a quality guitar that makes it a bit heavier than your average axe. (2) The hollow body sound: I personally think it sounds great, but then again, not everyone may agree. (3) The pick-ups. These babies are awesome!! I love them!! Definitely not your dual humbucker or SSS sound. These things are in a league of their own. Again, this may not be to everyone's liking. Conclusion? Great all around guitar at an exceptionally low price. If you've been admiring this beauty from afar, get in to try one out. If you appreciate good classic tone, you'll love this instrument.FreakyBro

Working in a big chain music shop in the late 90s, I have always detected a big blindfold test difference between Gibsons and Epis. There's a certain difference in quality that could not be denied. Epis just felt cheaper and lighter. This new Nighthawk, much like a lot of reviews for other new Epi models, feels more substantial. Cracking open the back panel reveals full size pots (Korean made; not CTS) and a quality megaswitch to pull off an interesting and useful array of pickup selections. I won't bore you with details you can gather from the specification tab. All I'm saying is the gap in quality between Epiphones and Gibsons are narrowing. The fit and finish is excellent (with exception of minor fret sprout) and it comes with a quality hardshell case. Not as nice as a Gibson case, but its similar but more plush to the case that came with my PRS SE Hollowbody II. If you have any interest in this guitar, better act quick before Epiphone raise their prices!Bob

Overall: QC is lacking I believe they was in a hurry to get them out and things were missed. The soldering is sloppy position 3 and 4 did not work due to wires touching and the finish on the neck started cracking I emailed zZounds and was sent a copy of the warranty and basically I can mail it in and at my expense to epiphone and they may or may not fix or replace it. I'm starting to really question if I will buy anything else from here and that's sad because I have bought many guitars and amps from zZounds I know the guitar's failures are not there fault but I've had the guitar less than a month and it's been nothing but issues. I expected more from epiphone and zZounds. On the bright side the case is one of the nicest if seen to come with a guitar especially at this price point. Well done epiphone for making a great caseMike

Bought this online at a great price and I am very impressed with the build of the guitar-it is like a smaller and much lighter Les Paul! Soundwise it is unique with 5 settings from the 2 pickups. Can play rock with ease and any other type of music from the different sounds. Fantastic value and it comes with a lovely hard case! These may not be one of the popular models but it is well worth a try!gerrylh61