MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

[SongsForTheDeaf]

I know this has been discussed to death online but I thought I would start fresh and get your opinions on them.

What would be your stand on the modern made in china epiphones versus the older MIK Epiphones?

I personally prefer the Korean made Dot I have over the several other MIC Semi Hollows I have tried from Epiphone including the 339 Ultra. The Korean Dot I use now has better pickups and a more round/full sound IMO.

What are your thoughts/experiences ?

 

[JeffB]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

IME, modern MIc Epiphones made at their own plants are far more often than not, superior instruments to the older Korean instruments farmed out to several non affiliated factories.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

IME, modern MIc Epiphones made at their own plants are far more often than not, superior instruments to the older Korean instruments farmed out to several non affiliated factories.

Hmm interesting. Do you know if they changed pickup designs or something? Every MIC Epiphone Semi hollow I have tried had very thin bridge pickups.

I got this MIK Dot expecting to have to replace the pickups but they sound full and to my liking. Maybe I got the random good MIK ? I read some were built at the Samick factory

 

[JeffB]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

Until very recently, Epi pickups have been all over the map. I have had a couple older guitars where the pups worked out OK, I had a cherry sunburst les paul that was a monster even with the old alnico classics..it was clear, big and beefy, but the truss rod was broke, so I had to return it. mostly the older epi pickups are muddy and built with poor quality components then encased in a brick of wax.

The new pickups that are being built to Gibson spec are consistent and sound very good.

 

[Gunner4Life]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

Where were the early 90's Epiphone Les Paul's made? I bought one in May of 1992, and thought it was a pretty good guitar... For the record, it was the first decent guitar I owned, and it would be many years before I would play an Edwards (2008), and even longer, a Gibson (2010), a side by side comparison is next to impossible using memory... I played a '59 Les Paul, owned by Jack Frost, who played briefly with Savatage, a few months after getting the Epiphone, but I don't really consider that a very fair comparison.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

The new pickups that are being built to Gibson spec are consistent and sound very good.

Hmm different strokes for different folks I guess! I have not played a MIC Epi Hollow that I liked the sound of. But FWIW I also have not played a Gibson ES-335 that I liked the sound of either besides the Chris Cornell model but that has Filtertron type pickups

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

Where were the early 90's Epiphone Les Paul's made? I bought one in May of 1992, and thought it was a pretty good guitar... For the record, it was the first decent guitar I owned, and it would be many years before I would play an Edwards (2008), and even longer, a Gibson (2010), a side by side comparison is next to impossible using memory... I played a '59 Les Paul, owned by Jack Frost, who played briefly with Savatage, a few months after getting the Epiphone, but I don't really consider that a very fair comparison.

Yeah my buddy had a early 90s Epi Les Paul that I really liked too! Not sure where they were made though but it seemed sturdy and the pots and switch were quiet.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I had three older Epi Les Pauls that were atrocious. None played well, none sounded good. Of course, eBay purchases, lol. A few years back I had an Epi B.B. King, Korean made that was one of the finest playing and sounding guitars I ever owned. Still regret having to sell it. Last year I picked up an Epi 60s tribute where the original pickups were replaced with a Duncan Distortion and a Jazz, the guitar is a monster in that it plays so easy with 10s on it. This is the only guitar I've ever owned where I put 10s on and kept them on. I remember at least a decade ago, whenever I picked up an Epi in a store, I hated the way it played. Now, they seem to be set up much better and sound much better as well. Oops, forgot the Epi Pro/Fx that I had to have set up, pickups replaced, and it still never felt quite right. And that one was new.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I had three older Epi Les Pauls that were atrocious. None played well, none sounded good. Of course, eBay purchases, lol. A few years back I had an Epi B.B. King, Korean made that was one of the finest playing and sounding guitars I ever owned. Still regret having to sell it. Last year I picked up an Epi 60s tribute where the original pickups were replaced with a Duncan Distortion and a Jazz, the guitar is a monster in that it plays so easy with 10s on it. This is the only guitar I've ever owned where I put 10s on and kept them on. I remember at least a decade ago, whenever I picked up an Epi in a store, I hated the way it played. Now, they seem to be set up much better and sound much better as well. Oops, forgot the Epi Pro/Fx that I had to have set up, pickups replaced, and it still never felt quite right. And that one was new.

I had the ES-339 Ultra with the tuner on it and piezo pickup blah blah.. Pickups sounded thin and boring. I could not get a sound I dug out of It so I took it back.

But then I have played the older Dots and the newer SG Specials (the ones with P-90s) that just blow me away.

I think with Epiphone it is one of those try before you buy cases. Some are wicked some are just plain bad.

 

[blueman335]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

IME, modern MIc Epiphones made at their own plants are far more often than not, superior instruments to the older Korean instruments farmed out to several non affiliated factories.

+1. I've played a lot of both and much prefer MIC's. In spite of people praising MIK's like it was some golden age of luthery (mainly people selling them trying to get a higher selling price), throughout the 1990's they had lousy generic no-name tuners, cheap mini-pots, and terrible PU's known as 'mudbuckers.' Quality was very inconsistent overall, but that's to expected with them being contracted out to various factories. Epi didn't have much control on their output.

From the time they built their own factory, MIC's Epi's have been continually improving. In 2010 they began upgrading PU's and still do so on more models. Prices have been kept the same, or have been lowered. I've sold most of my MIK Epi's and replaced them with MIC's.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

+1. I've played a lot of both and much prefer MIC's. In spite of people praising MIK's like it was some golden age of luthery (mainly people selling them trying to get a higher selling price), throughout the 1990's they had lousy generic no-name tuners, cheap mini-pots, and terrible PU's known as 'mudbuckers.' Quality was very inconsistent overall, but that's to expected with them being contracted out to various factories. Epi didn't have much control on their output.

From the time they built their own factory, MIC's Epi's have been continually improving. In 2010 they began upgrading PU's and still do so on more models. Prices have been kept the same, or have been lowered. I've sold most of my MIK Epi's and replaced them with MIC's.

The early 2000s MIKs are pretty good .. at least all the ones I have tried were and they have Grover tuners. I'm sure the 1990s ones were bad with those cheap looking tuners and muddy humbuckers.. Everyones preferences differ.

I have owned a few newer MICs (Sheraton II x 2 , ES-339 Ultra, Dot Studio) and none of them stood out to me so I sold them or returned them.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I like the newer ones better too but I make it a rule to judge every guitar as an individual.

 

[blueman335]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

The early 2000s MIKs are pretty good .. at least all the ones I have tried were and they have Grover tuners.

Agreed. I go by the tuners. If MIK's have Grover rotomatics, their overall quality tends to be better than the ones made in the '90's. The MIK's I've see/owned from the 2000's have been good quality; those seem to be mostly limited editions, and Epi seems to be pretty specific about what they want. The loose, hit-or-miss days of the '90's are over.

 

[felix1985]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I'm in the process of paying off an Epi Prophecy Ex les paul. It is MIC but it is a badass Mofo. Very solidly built and cleanly finished. My only complaints is the black satin finish on the back of the neck looks kinda thin but I can deal with that.


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[Psykel]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I got a 2000 Epi Les Paul Standard, made in the Bohemia Musica factory in the Czech republic. Apart from the original electronics, it's one of the best LP's I've ever played.

 

[Kais]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I've got a MIK Explorer, and I've put it head to head against the Gibson, and its very close imo. Mine came with grover tuners, and the pups weren't too bad, lots actually praised them.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I've got a 2000 Epi Dot which is MIC as far as I know. The pickups that came with the guitar were terrible (muddy/overwound), but after replacement it became a very solid guitar.

 

[blueman335]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I've got a 2000 Epi Dot which is MIC as far as I know. The pickups that came with the guitar were terrible (muddy/overwound), but after replacement it became a very solid guitar.

That's a MIK. MIC started in 2003, and upgraded PU's in 2010.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

I've only had one pre 2010 Epi where the pups were worth keeping...My 1966-8 (not totally sure of the exact year, they didn't keep very good records of their serial numbers for several years) Sheraton made in Kalamazoo. Other than electronics, all of my Epis are excellent quality...build, finish, tone, playability.

 

[icantbuyafender]

Re: MIK Vs MIC Epiphones

Feel and playability were better on the MiK

Sound... Post 2010 epi.

Korean pups were inconsistent and well.. Gross...

My opinions, tho.

Owned an '08 dot and '09 LpGT... MiC...

The p90s were good on the GT... Nothing else...

The dot... Well... It was made of wood... And had dots.