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Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente Acoustic-electric Guitar - Antique Natural Aged Gloss

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Ovangkol Body, Sitka Spruce Top, Maple/Walnut Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Antique Natural Aged Gloss
21 Write review Item ID: EMTEANAGH
$1,299.00

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Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente Acoustic-electric Guitar - Antique Natural Aged Gloss
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Masterbilt Version Of a Very Rare Epi

One of the rarest Epiphone models ever, just 141 Excellente acoustic guitars were produced between 1963 and 1970. Made famous by country music legend Loretta Lynn, the Excellente now joins the Epi’s Masterbilt Collection. Featuring a Solid Sitka Spruce top, an ebony fingerboard with historic mother-of-pearl Block Cloud inlays, a bone nut and saddle, and gold Kluson Waffleback tuners; the Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente is powered by onboard Fishman Sonitone electronics. Guitarists at Sweetwater are knocked out by the Masterbilt Excellente’s exceptional tone, playability, looks — and value. We’re sure you will be, too.

Sitka spruce and ovangkol: tonewood alchemy

A quality acoustic guitar is all about the wood, and the Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente serves up a classic tonewood cocktail with no compromises. The top is solid Sitka spruce for robust projection and crystalline note clarity. Solid ovangkol, used for the back and sides of the Excellente, is tonally similar to rosewood, but with a slightly fuller midrange and a bright high-end reminiscent of koa. The tonewood characteristics of the Masterbilt Excellente — together with its large dreadnought body — give it the power and nuance to accommodate a wide range of playing styles.

Hit the stage with Fishman Sonitone electronics

The Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente comes equipped with Fishman Sonitone electronics that are ready for you to hit the stage or plug into your computer for easy recording. The pickup is mounted inside the soundhole, giving you easy access to volume and tone controls. Fishman is a world leader in acoustic amplification, giving you exceptional plugged-in tone with your Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente.

Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • Masterbilt edition of one of the rarest Epiphone models
  • Solid ovangkol body; solid Sitka spruce top
  • 5-piece maple/walnut neck, C profile
  • Ebony fingerboard with historic mother-of-pearl Block Cloud inlay
  • 25.315-inch scale length; 20 frets, bone nut
  • Fishman Sonitone pickup system transfers every nuance of your tone to your PA or amp
  • Vintage-style gold Kluson Waffleback Tuners with metal buttons

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

Additional Media

Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide
Epiphone Booth Visit at Winter NAMM 2020

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Square Shoulder Dreadnought
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Ovangkol
  • Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
  • Finish: Aged Gloss
  • Color: Antique Natural
  • Binding: Ivory/Black 6-ply top, 4-ply back
  • Neck Wood: Maple/Walnut
  • Neck Shape: C
  • Radius: 12"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Excellente Block Clouds
  • Number of Frets: 20, Medium Jumbo
  • Scale Length: 25.315"
  • Nut Width: 1.68"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Bone
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Gold Kluson Waffleback Vintage Tuners with Metal buttons
  • Electronics: Fishman Sonitone
  • Strings: Gibson, .012-.053
  • Case Included: Sold Separately
  • Manufacturer Part Number: EMTEANAGH1

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Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5

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The Excellente

First off, the specs are wrong folks. Just about every website you go to calls out the inlays as "Perloid" when we all know is a fancy word for crap plastic. They are not plastic, they are Mother of Pearl. I personally confirmed this with Gibson, who confirmed it with the Epiphone Engineering team, as well as the factory. I have it in writing. Now, on to the guitar itself. It is incredible, and I mean incredible. You could not get me to touch an overseas guitar until 2 things happened:
1. Solid woods were deployed with an actual build quality
2. Prove you're worthy of my hard earned money

Epiphone has accomplished this. I wouldn't touch Epiphone prior to the "Inspired by Gibson" and this "Excellente" to which I now own the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Hummingbird as well as this Epiphone Excellente. Both guitars are just killer as far as sound and build quality are concerned. If they skimped, I can't find it. The Excellente is a step above the Hummingbird and I don't mind saying that. You can't go wrong buying this guitar. The only thing I'd do different is to remove their pickup system. When I said they didn't skimp on these, I meant on their construction. The pickup system should either be removed or replaced, to which Sweetwater will surely do for you at a reasonable price. Again, this Excellente is bad to the bone friends! I did a review of it at: https://youtu.be/JFdOWLAIH7I

Thanks,
Randy Cox
by Paul Cox from Mineola, TX on

This sounds and feels like a $ Acoustic!

First off the guitar is absolutely beautiful. The mother of pearl, ebony fretboard, the spruce top looks like a one piece. It's very well crafted with tones you can get are clean bass and really clean crisp highs. Every note rings and the sustain is really good. The action on mine is perfect with no buzz anywhere. Sweetwater does it right. Keep in mind, everyone has a preference in how their guitars are set up. Set up is the most important. I purchased mine with the Epiphone case to protect this beauty. This guitar should be a lot more money for what you get. I don't like talking about big brand companies and I own plenty. It's all opinions and tastes, and what you want out of guitars. I always say check it out for yourself, and don't listen to anyone making your purchase decisions. You are the one that has to play it. All I can say is that I'm incredibly happy with my Excelente and I would recommend it to anyone.
by Michael on

Amazing guitar!!

Well..after buying the IBG Hummingbird which l absolutely love... I had to get an "Excellente" and lm seriously happy l did..personally l do not like the "artwork" on either pickgaurd, l find it downright ugly, l don't understand why they would use such quality wood and then slap a huge thick gummy pickgaurd right on the sound board of the guitar?¿? and l can't help but wonder how much better would the tone be with a thin coat of nitro or better yet..varnish! These are my only concerns or questions about the guitar..it sounds and plays fantastic. For one issue l did order a Bruce Wei dark rosewood pickgaurd without artwork that will be ebonized before I install it, at that time it will get a set of Elixer nano's, I will say the action is perfect on the guitar for me, med/low..much better than the Hummingbird ( which was purchased locally..no fault of Sweetwater!) which will only be remedied with shaving the bridge saddle. Nich at Sweetwater was amazing with frequent updates on the status of the guitar prior to shipping! Thanks Nich!
by James Hill from Miami on
Music background: Ex- bandmate of "The Threat" 35 years

Incredible guitar, equally incredible service.

This was my first experience with Sweetwater and I could not be happier.
The Epiphone Excellente is the finest guitar I've owned, after years of Guilds, Takamines, Gretschs and a few others, I've never owned a guitar built with this level of craftsmanship and these materials, at any price point.
As for the service, I received a personal call wishing me well with my new guitar, detailed photos of it (as it was a demo) and tracking the entire (short) time it took from when I ordered to when I received it.
by Joe from Cape Cod on
Music background: Advanced amateur, former gig and band player.

I am serious about this review.

A week ago, FedEx delivered my Excellente at 4:00pm. At 4:30 I dropped it off at my guitar technicians shop, for a set up and elixir strings. Long weekend but I was fine with a wait. Picked it up today. Where do I start? The initial feel of this guitar in my hands triggered the wow factor. Not sure which was more excited, my eyes, my hands, or my ears. Clearly, the gamble I took buying a site unseen, unheard, guitar was about to bring a level of joy I would have never imagined. Ok it's one day. I get it. Maybe I'm rushing a bit, No, I'm not. This Epiphone feels that good and looks and sounds even better. I have two Taylor's I play almost everyday. I like them and I am happy to have them. The cost of these to Taylor's is nearly $. I'll let you do the math. This gem and a case was under $. So, if you are on the fence slow to make this decision, that's fine, because someone else will buy the Excellente you are looking at. You are gonna let this one get away.
by Sweetwater Customer from Ohio on
Music background: Play for the fun of it, it’s a hobby.
See also: Acoustic Electric Guitars, Epiphone, Epiphone Acoustic / Electric Guitars
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