-
July 28th, 2012, 09:40 AM
#1
If you think you might want to keep it, look for any gently-pre-owned pre-2004 BGCF (Before Gibson China Factory) built in Korea model usually under contract with strict spec QC so excellent build quality. You can tell by the s/n on the headstock. First a letter code designating the factor, the next 1 or 2 digits tell the year:
I = Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd.
R = Peerless Korea Co. Ltd. (the factory was Aria's, since they were an Aria, Japan subsidiary)
S = Samick Guitars (closed Korea in 02 and moved to Indonesia)
U = Un Sung Musical Instrument Co. Ltd.
F = Fine Guitars Plant
It could take a while, but worth it. If you don't like the PUPs, you can always swap those out for Gibsons or save coin w/o sacrificing quality with Duncan clones.
Just my 2 cents, as I've acquired & shucked a few Chinese builds, the worst coming out of Gibson China (s/n starting with code EE). To hide that shite now, they don't even use a letter code, so you can't tell which factory it came out of, theirs or one that makes clones under other brands.
The only 2 Epi's I have left aren't LP's but one's a Samick Korea and the other a Peerless. I tried selling them late last year b/c I was in a....bind...but glad they didn't go. I was asking too much for them, compared to the price of used, newer ones.
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules