Epiphone Zephyr Blues Deluxe Purchase?

[sprucemousse]

I have come across a second hand Zephyr Blues Deluxe in a local shop i was wondering what peoples opinions on these guitars were. i.e general build quality, any upgrades needed etc? its a reasonable price (for here in Australia and comes with the OHSC)

cheers

[Jon C]

good ones are fabulous values IMO, mine's made by Peerless for Epi and compares favorably to the Gibson Custom Shop ES-5 in a direct A/B ... you don't get all the fine detail work & binding, but the tone & playability are there if it's a good one.

jc

[Mattbedrock]

Mine is a Peerless (Korean) built one also. I bought it used with a minor neck repair (fingerboard reglued at the top of the neck). It's my only large hollow body - I've always loved the look of an ES-5 Switchmaster, but I wasn't about to drop that kind of coin without trying that style out for a while. I've found it very useful for recording, playing around the pool, whatever. It doesn't work well at the volumes my band plays at.



Mine plays well and sounds great. The ability to mix the 3 P-90's in any combination gives great flexibility of sounds. The combination of middle/bridge does something vaguely strat-like but in a hollowbody. Mine was only $450 - I'm pleased with the deal I got.

[musicofanatic5]

Originally Posted by rileymaher

I have come across a second hand Zephyr Blues Deluxe in a local shop i was wondering what peoples opinions on these guitars were. i.e general build quality, any upgrades needed etc? its a reasonable price (for here in Australia and comes with the OHSC)

cheers

Probably good enough carcass if you get a well made one. If you like the neck you're alright. Generally the electronics gotta go; easy enough on a full-hollow gtr.

[mad dog]

Peerless made stuff can be really nice. So if it feels right, that's a good start. If you do start upgrading electronics, I can recommend two things. First is to have p/us rewound so that the outer two are humcancelling together, and the middle is out of phase to the others. Did that on my Peerless Wizard (a thinline version of the ES-5), and it makes for some real sweet sounds. The other is, if you have the p/us out already, consider installing a soundpost. It will lessen feedback and make the guitar more useful. To go even further, dougsplugs or equivalent for the f-holes.
MD