Epiphone USA Coronet

freakboy1610

I've just had an email from Peach about a new Epiphone USA Coronet.
https://www.peachguitars.com/epiphone-usa-collection-coronet/
I think they look pretty cool and I'd be interested to try one. Not sure how I feel about the price but I guess it's more realistic than recent Epiphone releases. 

Funkfingers

The traditionalist in me would prefer the P90 to be the historically-correct dogear type. 

Better yet, a historically incorrect trio of mini hunbuckers.

springhead

I guess it’s pretending to be the very early pre dogear Coronet. Although wrong pickup for that too. 

The standard Chinese made version looks very good. I bought one for slide use. Was almost a shame to change the action and string gauge and put it open E as it’s a decent guitar for ‘normal’ use. Fit and finish are very good. 

JezWynd

To ensure impeccable intonation and enhanced playability, the Epiphone Coronet is equipped with a wraparound bridge.

Don't know how a simple bar bridge is going to 'ensure impeccable intonation'. No mention in the text about the finish, I'd hope a US made Epiphone might have a nitro finish.

MSedg

Epiphone website says nitro

equalsql

As a Steve Marriott fan, I approve this thread.  

guitars4you

JezWynd said:

To ensure impeccable intonation and enhanced playability, the Epiphone Coronet is equipped with a wraparound bridge.

Don't know how a simple bar bridge is going to 'ensure impeccable intonation'. No mention in the text about the finish, I'd hope a US made Epiphone might have a nitro finish.

I own an original 64 Epi Coronet with the original wrapover bridge/tailpiece - They are not perfect intonation, if it is an original 'off the shelf' wrapover and you are using a plain G/3rd - However, many 'modern updated' models are machined with a perfect/tweaked intonation 'ridge' for a plain 3rd/G - Barely visible in some cases - Collings use such a wrapover on their 290 models - First glimpse and they look as per any 'old/original' wrapover - But just enough of a correct 'ridge' to use a plain 3rd - Many modern 'replacement' wrapovers will fit and 'correct' such intonation issues if required

I'll post a pic shortly of my original 61 - Neil at @IvisonGuitars borrowed it for a short while to measure all the spec when he built his Filmore Models - I only played 1 or 2 of these, when I saw Neil exhibiting at various shows and interesting to see how he built a better version of the original, based on 'playability'  

guitars4you

I suppose the £1599 price is in keeping with the 'equivalent' Gibson LP Special and I dare say a similar grade of instrument - I've seen/sold a few of these that are pretty handy, if not a DNA Custom Shop replica - But more than adequate and can hold its place in a shoot out - I expect the Epi will be likewise 

I dare say a Custom Shop DNA vintage replica costing 3/4K would not create much interest with the Epi brand name on it

Offset

Only its' US momma could love it.

Teyeplayer

I’m sure these will be great and when knocked out at a sale price of £1200 we’ll fall over ourselves for them. 

The problem I have though is that in my mind, these look more authentic: 

The cheaper version has got the dog ear p90, doesn’t have the funny looking knobs, has the softer curves and less of a slab body. Probably isn’t authentic to a ‘64 (etc), but looks more appealing and like Steve Marriott’s. 

SteveRobinson

A customer of mine stripped and refinished a cherry Epiphone Coronet using my lacquer. I refretted it while it was bare wood and I have to say that the quality of the wood was superb, no veneers, just nice even-grained mahogany.

He removed the tacky plate from the headstock, filled the holes and re-logoed it using a vinyl stencil I provided and my bronze lacquer.

guitars4you

Teyeplayer said:

I’m sure these will be great and when knocked out at a sale price of £1200 we’ll fall over ourselves for them. 

The problem I have though is that in my mind, these look more authentic: 

The cheaper version has got the dog ear p90, doesn’t have the funny looking knobs, has the softer curves and less of a slab body. Probably isn’t authentic to a ‘64 (etc), but looks more appealing and like Steve Marriott’s. 

Yes, they have been built more in 'the style off' rather than as a 'DNA Custom Shop replica' - As I mentioned above, it equates to the LP Special TV which is around £1500-ish - Good guitar, but to the purist not a DNA replica 

guitars4you

My original 61 Coronet including the original 'crap' card board case 

SteveRobinson

One of my lockdown projects, based on the later asymmetric version with a "batwing" headstock

Philly_Q

I think the slab body makes the new Epiphone look really ugly.  It looks far better with the more rounded edges like those in most of the pictures here.

freakboy1610

This thread has been really interesting.  Thanks guys.  My take is why on earth would they do an inauthentic reissue. I can understand changing the nut width and neck profile if that constitutes an improvement but why the aesthetic changes? It's bizarre! I'm no longer interested in the US model. 

Rabs

They certainly sound the business.. Just love a nice overdriven P90 sound.....

BobHillman

Teyeplayer said:

I’m sure these will be great and when knocked out at a sale price of £1200 we’ll fall over ourselves for them. 

The problem I have though is that in my mind, these look more authentic: 

The cheaper version has got the dog ear p90, doesn’t have the funny looking knobs, has the softer curves and less of a slab body. Probably isn’t authentic to a ‘64 (etc), but looks more appealing and like Steve Marriott’s. 

The reason that the USA model is different from the Chinese one is because it is based on the very earliest models, like this one (apart from the different pickup) -

https://www.atbguitars.com/1959-epiphone-coronet-ossc-tags-near-mint

Teyeplayer

BobHillman said:

Teyeplayer said:

Probably isn’t authentic to a ‘64 (etc), but looks more appealing and like Steve Marriott’s. 

The reason that the USA model is different from the Chinese one is because it is based on the very earliest models, like this one (apart from the different pickup) -

https://www.atbguitars.com/1959-epiphone-coronet-ossc-tags-near-mint

Thanks, I wasn’t sure of the year it aligned with as an influence. They should make more of that in the marketing tbh, and use a more authentic pickup. 

Moe_Zambeek

The slab ones are basically two bottom halves of a tele joined in the middle by the look of it. Partially explains why Satellite were warned off making any more a while back.

impmann

Shame they didn't do it properly and fit the mini humbucker as per the original 1958 Coronet... 



Now *that* would be cool - and would make it sonically different to a Les Paul Junior...