The Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II Electric Guitar features a laminated maple neck and body; solid rosewood bridge; gold tuners and tailpiece; multiple bound body, neck, and peghead. Plus a Joe Pass signature on the guitar's bound simulated tortoiseshell pickguard.
Joe Pass Emperor IIFeatured review by: TheGuitarDude69, on april 13, 2009 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased from: 5J Music
Features: I have one from 1992, made in Korea, and it plays amazing. It only has 20 frets wich kinda sucks, but it has good clear pickups(Gibson USA), gold hardware, and an amazing finish. The only thing that could have been better would be a figured maple top. It came with a case. // 9
Sound: I play anything from metal to jazz, and this guitar can play anything that isn't heavy distortion. I use a Behringer UC200 chourus pedal with it, along with a Behringer 15 watt V-Tone. It has a full sound, and my only complaint is the buzz from the bridge when you play without an amp. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: I got the guitar used, so I'm not sure if it's factory, or if it was ajusted, but it has good action. The pickups are great. It has no flaws in the finish. It had a bit of a bridge buzz, but that's it. It's a little hard to bend but that's alright. It has a noisy pup selector, and the pups are WAY sensitive. // 9
Reliability & Durability: I have only had the guitar for about a day, but since it's a 1992 model, it definetly is reliable over at least 17 years. I wouldn't use a backup with it, because it is good quality. The strap buttons were very solid. The hardware does lose it's color over 17 years, but what do you expect. // 10
Impression: This was a good match for all my styles, except metal, but it's not ment for metal so what do you expect. I have been playing for 4 years, and this is the best guitar I have played. I have an Epiphone SG Special II(sucks), and a Burswood Electric(sucks), and this blew them out of the water.If it was stolen, I would track down the theif and get it back, or save up and get a Gibson ES-335. I copared it to an Ibanez AF75TDG Artcore Hollow Body Electric Guitar, and the Joe Pass model was 100 times better, and it was cheaper than the Ibanez. I just wish it had 22 frets. // 10
Joe Pass Emperor II
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on january 15, 2007 3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 788
Purchased from: Veerkamp
Features: The Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II Electric Guitar features a laminated maple neck and body; solid rosewood bridge; gold tuners and tailpiece; multiple bound body, neck, and peghead. Plus a Joe Pass signature on the guitar's bound simulated tortoiseshell pickguard. Limited lifetime warranty. // 10
Sound: I am currently using a DigiTech RP80 effects unit with my guitar, and trust me, out of the 4 guuitars that I own, this one is the one that sounds the best with that effects unit. I play blues, and rock, most of the songs that I play are by U2, Delirious?, Hillsong Unied and Coldplay. The only thing I do notice is a buzz coming from the bridge sometimes, and it gets annoting (only when it's not plugged in). // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: The finish is very neat, and one thing I didn't like about th factory settings was the protective plastic under the bridge, which forces you to loosen the strings, and remove the bridge in order to remove the plastic. The action is adjustable, since the bridge can be adjusted (both height and length). // 10
Reliability & Durability: his is one of those 'tars that will last a lifetime. You get the full reliabilty of a Gibson intrument, specially with the Gibson hardware that is installed on it (Gold American pickups). This guitar is reliable and durable. I noticed that the strap buttons did need some tightening, but it was easy to fix (with only a screw driver). // 9
Impression: I play alternative rock and blues, and this guitar is just perfect for my style. I also own a Dean Avalanche, and a Silvertone electric-acoustic. I've been playing for 4 years now, and over time I've been bulding up my repertoire of equipment, which includes an RP80 effects unit, 2 small pedals (stereo mix and delay). Compared to similar guitars (Sheratton, Casino, B.B. King) this has to be the best archtop Epiphone has to offer. It has american made pickups (Gibson) and no other Archtop by Epiphone has that, and it also features all gold hardware. // 10
I have this guitar and agree with nearly everything, with exception that the pickups are not Gibson USA. They are typical, but nicely made, Epiphone.
Epiphone only uses Gibson USA pups on their Elitist models and the Joe Pass Emperor II is not part of that line.
All the signature models have Gibsons too. The Tony Iommi Signature SG has Gibsons, and the only signatures Ive seen without Gibsons is the B.B. King sig., and the Tom Delounge signature
thinking about buying one of these , but the only problem is finding one left handed anywhere in the UK. I'd love one of these in natural finish and left handed. Any ideas where to look? because they are now discontinued in left handed?
I am the proud owner of 1995 Samick made Joe Pass with Genuine classic 57 in neck position...awesome tone. For the tarnishing golden hardware..well I got rid of it. Grover tuners, metallic harp tailpiece painted black, custom made wooden pickguard. That is a keeper. I also got an Emperor Regent highly modified and a Sheraton is on its way..I gues I am an Epifan ;
The problem with this review is that it's based on a 1992 Korean model. There are a lot of craftsmanship issues on these, and even on higher end Epiphones, such as the Broadway, nowadays, that weren't there in 1992. When these were made in South Korea, they were simply cheaper versions of what used to be made in the west. However, today greed has driven Epiphone/Gibson into China. The Chinese made Epiphones such as this will arrive completely messed up, fret buzz everywhere, massive cracks in the finish, and Epiphone inspectors will pass them and have them shipped to you anyway. Other commonly reported problems are screws falling out of new guitars and strange, annoying vibrations from inside the guitar that cannot be identified. So, unfortunately, your review is now somewhat irrelevant. Epiphones made in China or Indonesia are not simply cheaper versions; they are ripoffs. Unless someone is shopping for a 90s-era Korean-made Joe Pass Emperor, I would strongly suggest they ignore your review.
