Epiphone Masterbilt Texan Acoustic-Electric Guitar Antique Natural Aged Gloss

Stage and rehearsal

Buying this Masterbilt Texan provided a happy ending to a very long but informative journey into the Epiphone Texan story. The Texan has been made for years and there are a few different variations circulating out there, some made overseas, some in the USA. For the price point I was aiming, the "Masterbilt" Series and the "Inspired by 1964" would fit my budget. The "Inspired by 1964" has been made since early 2000, is cheaper by a hundred dollars or so, but "looks" identical to the "Masterbilt". But in this case, looks are definitely deceiving. The "inspired by 1964" was made in China, and according to reviews dated as far back as the early 2000's, it was "rough" around the edges. All of them needed a major set up and substantial fretwork and neck adjustment. My research pointed to the "Masterbilt" so I ordered and received one, but not from Musiciansfriend, as it wasn't available yet. The Masterbilt is a finely crafted instrument. Right out of the box, it played effortlessly, and feels like a true vintage instrument. It has a super-fast neck which makes chordal or single noting a breeze. And one feature I was not expecting was the superior tone it produces. It is so rich, but crystal clear with a tint of the boxiness a parlor guitar would have. Although the guitar includes built-in electronics, it has substantial volume when unamplified. The result was a fine guitar,with superb craftsmanship, and at a reasonable price.