Magnets on Epi Elitist?

strat_master

New member
Hi guys just wondering they say on their site their epiphone elitist guitars have pick ups made by gibson the 50Sr and 60St humbuckers. Are they alnico 2 or 5 or ceramics? I can't really tell and there is no info on them on their site otehr than they are made with nickel or gold.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

I'll say probably something cheaper than alnico 2.

Ceramic maybe? Alnico 5...maybe.
Seems like the magnets in non-professional type guitars (no offence!) are very often ceramic magnets to cut down on cost.

Lew
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

Epi swithced to Alnico 5 in 99 or 2000 on their regular line. It seems appropriate that they would use at least Alnico V on their Elite models.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

hmm fair enough, no offense taken lew i was just curious about the epi elitist line because techniqually its the top of line as far as epiphone go. Also interesting to see how close they can come to the real deal, but not quite there! i played a custom epiphone elistist LP a while back and was impressed, the fret job was perfect! Nothing i can see wrong with it, the lp elitst studio LP though did not feel that great, im curious to try out the standards as well as they are the middle of the line. The custom although nice, was very pricy aboutt he same cost as a gibson studio LP, but when compared the the custom to me seemed a little more well made then the gibson studio. Althought he gibson was nice it wasnt as nice. But of course when compraed to a higher end gibson like a standard or classic epiphone get blown out of the water.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

i agree with the ceramic comment though lew, most MIM fenders have ceramic pick ups. But that doesn't mean they are bad, the invader has a ceramic magnet as well. But for the msot part its true. But the epiphone elitist line seems to be a intermediate guitar and not soo much the cheap beginners guitar.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

Nope. Doesn't mean they are bad. Ceramic costs less than alnico but there are lots of great sounding pickups that use ceramic. Lew
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

IIRC the Elitist LP pickups are clones of the 498t & 490r that were used in the previous Gibson LP Standard models. Google for sure.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

there are a few Epi and Gibson boards on the web. Maybe run the question by some of those places.

can't hurt.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

Lewguitar said:
You'd think they'd brag them up if they were alnico...maybe they are ceramic?

That would be a logical guess IMO. Maybe since they have 4 cond. wire instead of Gibson's usual 2 cond. they are some type of Gibson after market pickup...?

The guitars look quite nice themselves, even if (I say if because I've never tried them) the PU's need to be upgraded. It seem like the frets have an oval crown (which I prefer over the usual Gibson square crown) and the real pearl inlays are a nice touch too. I've always felt that if the guitar comes with a hard shell case it's more often than not a nice instrument. I'd like to see these in person now that I've seen them on the web. I've also found that MIJ guitars are, more often than not, built better than the same Korean models IMO. Wattage sure seems to love his Gretsch Malcolm Young and it's built in the same factory as the Epi Elitist models.
 
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Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

Ya one good point i realy like about them is that altough they are not american mae, they are at least made in japan, which is far better than some korean factory.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

strat_master said:
But the epiphone elitist line seems to be a intermediate guitar and not soo much the cheap beginners guitar.

The Epiphone Elitist is a pro-level guitar, IMHO. Heck, even the Korean made Epis can be pro level with the right pickups and set up... I've used them in sessions and got much better tone than the other guitarist using a Fender 62 RI Strat... :rolleyes:
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

Ok Strat Master I've got the answer :laugh2:

Check this out:

ElitistPickguard1.jpg


Alnico baby! Glad to hear you're getting good tone with the Epi's BS123 :cool3:
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

gOgIver said:
Glad to hear you're getting good tone with the Epi's BS123 :cool3:

Well, it did take installing a set of 59's :rolleyes: ..... but the tone was there.....
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

Lewguitar said:
Seems like the magnets in non-professional type guitars (no offence!) are very often ceramic magnets to cut down on cost.

Lew

I dont take any offense, but Elitist are 100% pro instruments.

Anyway, anything near/over 1000$ from Japan IS a pro-level instrument IMHO.
 
Re: Magnets on Epi Elitist?

Thames said:
I dont take any offense, but Elitist are 100% pro instruments.

Anyway, anything near/over 1000$ from Japan IS a pro-level instrument IMHO.

And thinking that those are pro-level instruments and they have "50's type of pickup" I will think they have alnico mags.
 
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