Epiphone Pro-1 Easy to Play Series

chris77

I've seen these advertised a couple of places, and I am a little undecided about them.

http://www.epiphone.com/PRO-1.aspx

On the one hand, I think they got it spot on with highlighting and addressing a few of the issues that make it difficult for new players to get over the initial hump and keep going. Plus they are affordable as well.

But on the other hand, isn't stuff like a comfortable neck, ability to stay in tune and a truss rod that cane be adjusted properly the kind of basics that you would expect a guitar from a reputable maker to have anyway? So are they really offering something new and useful or are they just marketing it very cleverly?

Bit of both I reckon. But what says you.

Gimmick, or a great option for beginners?

Keira-WitherKay

well i just glanced through it......... BUT i reckon having improvements ...that make a guitar easier to play or offer better setups and shorter scale so less tension can't be a bad thing........

i know players like Jack White are quoted to say they "like guitars they need to fight to play" but on the other hand if they can solve some guitar issues and still offer them at great entry level prices.... it may just raise the bar on all cheap instruments meaning the competition better offer similar specs at similar prices or they will lose market share .... that is of course if these guitars are truly easier to play .....

i think it's a great thing ....

ezietsman

You'd think Epiphone can afford better web developers/designers though...

It looks like acoustic guitars with lower tension. Probably not a bad thing, as Keira says. I stupidly sold my acoustic long ago because I got sick of the really tight strings (I didn't know anything back then).

V8

What a great spec on the entry level one for a RRP of USD120? Finally Cort has some competition in the beginner market (would be amusing if they are probably being made in the Cortek factory).

Only thing that I'd really like to see is a slightly more ergonomic solution where your right forearm rest on the lower part of the body.

Something like this (sorry can only find this small pic) :

Perhaps it's something that is only really applicable on nylon's, but I really find this works (comfort wise). I'm not the only one, everyone who's played this guitar remarks on how comfy it is and asks why don't more guitars have something similar.

If you feel using that much of the body hurts tone, I tried one of the Maingaard Flamenco guitars at the gear junkie recently. The Negra has a slightly rounded/rolled edge where your right arm would rest on the body and a slightly narrower & slimmer neck - amazing how much more comfy that made the guitar feel. The tone was deeply impressive, serious projection and dynamics...whoever bought it has a fantastic guitar.

singemonkey

I wanted to be cynical, but it looks like - on paper at least - they've put together a number of diiferent things to ease over the beginner's typical troubles. To which I say kudos. Whether this plays out when the guitars are in the shop is another matter. This is a company with a reputation for messing up the quality control on many of its $4,000 guitars...

V8: As nice an addition as that would be for beginners, I'm pretty sure it'd be much more costly than the other things they've included with these. Not having a flat top will make the manufacturing much more complex - and expensive - I reckon.

Wizard

I have to agree with v8 with the rounded edge thing. On holding that Maingaard guitar the immediate difference of the edge was quite dramatic. I agree it would cost more Singe but perhaps this should be bumped higher up the design priority list. Guitar makers are madly hunting for gimmicks to generate new sales. This would be useful