Martin Sound - Epiphone Price

Almost a FIVE Star rating. The original strings were those cheapos. Other than that...all solid wood, old style Grover tuners, the diamond shaped inlays on the frets, etc. The satin finish allows the sound to resonate better than that of a "glossy" finish, producing rich, full lows and bright, crisp highs. Like another reviewer, I hadn't played in years. I started with an Epiphone Dove, which is OK, but lacking in that solid wood sound. This one blows away the competition. I am not joking...compare it to Martins costing $1500 and above. This guitar needed NO SET UP at all, except the new strings.

Good value for the money

I purchased the DR-500M approximately a year ago and was very pleased with the overall quality of the guitar including the sound. I had just started playing again after 20 years of being inactive. I purchased a Martin D18V to reward myself for the many months of practice and ability to get back to playing condition. I opted to keep my Epiphone for a practice guitar at my office and glad with that decision. I have played many guitars under 700.00 and the DR-500M still plays at the top of the group.

Epiphone has done it again!

The Epiphone DR500M is an outstanding instrument especially at it's price point. It is hard to find the build quality, selection of solid tone woods and attention to detail that the Masterbilt series brings to the guitarists table. The DR500M has a very focused and tight bottom end without any "boominess" and a even midrange response with smooth higher end tone without the distracting shrillness or excessive after-ring that laminate guitars do. For the money or about any money, you just can't go wrong with a Masterbilt series instrument. The tuning gears are very good, the neck is true without any buzzing issues, the fret work is superb, the binding is flawless and the tonewood grains are immaculate especially the top. The bracing is super clean and sanded very smooth. The satin finish will allow the guitar to breathe and age with sweetness much faster than a gloss finished one will. I love mine and I've been playing steady for over 40 years. At all levels.