My new Epiphone- Solid back?

[guitardave]

I bought this today at Elderly. It is listed as having only a solid top, and "solid" is not mentioned in the back and sides. However, the very distinct grains seen on the back are also seen on the inside. I brought it down to the repair shop downstairs at Elderly and asked them about it, to see if they agree it must be solid. They did, and checked a few places to confirm if it should be solid, but did not really find anything. They said sometimes these things happen. It is a China instrument, so solid back and sides for $500 is not unlikely, but it was not advertised this way. I had gone to check out the highly touted Michael Kellys, but I was dissapointed in the slop around the scroll, and frankly I could not get past that. They sounded fine, but certainly did not challenge the giants. This Epiphone sound great, very close to the Big boys! Anyone know if these are supposed to have solid backs?

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MM50.htm

[pickinNgrinnin]

The one (MM50) I had 3 years ago had a solid top but laminated sides and back. It was made in Korea. I believe that was the standard.

[flairbzzt]

Epiphone's website lists only back & side "materials". I must say, I found a Korean made and a Chinese made in the same store, both new, and preferred the feel and sound of the Korean made model. I am told that Epiphone moved their plant to China about a year or so ago. Did you look at Morgan Monroe's upper models?

[guitardave]

Epiphone's website lists only back & side "materials". I must say, I found a Korean made and a Chinese made in the same store, both new, and preferred the feel and sound of the Korean made model. I am told that Epiphone moved their plant to China about a year or so ago. Did you look at Morgan Monroe's upper models?
I did check out the Morgan Monroes. They sounded nice, but this Epiphone was notably better. I should note, I played the Epiphone, and was impressed immediately, but put it back on the rack because I assumed it was a laminate back. I was not interested in buying a laminate. I was actually pretty frustrated for about an hour, because this Epiphone (laminate, I thought) was sounding better than some very pricey mandolins. I kept going back to it, and was using it as a reference point. This was frustrating to me, because I thought I was using a laminate to find a better sounding solid mandolin. Finally, out of this frustration and unable to believe a laminate could be better than all these nice solid mandolins, I checked the grain, comparing the back with the inside. I found they matched exactly, and went about confirming my findings.
I will say, that based on what I heard today, I will eventually own a Breedlove. They sounded consistently excellent. But I am very happy with this Epiphone.
Regarding the China plant vs. Korea, the workmanship on this Chinese mandolin is much better than the Korean Michael Kellys they had.
Just an FYI, your milage may vary.

[Michael H Geimer]

Hey Dave,
I used to own an Epi MM-50, and I swear the back was solid. There were some clear and distinct grain patterns that were visible on the back that could also be seen through the F-holes.

I choose to believe my eyes, and my experience, rather than the published spec sheet.

- Benig

[fatt-dad]

I too was impressed with the Epiphone I played at the local music store. Actually, I put up a post and BigJoe said that they are in a new factory (in China) and it is going well. Maybe Epiphone Asia will work.

f-d