Epiphone archtop

[ELK]

Okay, it's not purely acoustic, but I don't know where else to post this. . . .
After a few months of starting to learn about playing jazz, I decided to buy an archtop. I'm not good enough at this style to merit a very expensive instrument, so I got an Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II. It had a serial number that started with an "I." The sound and action were actually quite good, but there were numerous fit and finsh flaws that really bothered me, and I returned it. Later, I read that this instrument is made both by Samick in Korea and by other manufacturers, some of which are in Indonesia. The Indonesian ones, whose serial numbers start with "I," are known to be less well made. Now I wonder if I should look for a Korean made model. Has anyone had experience with this guitar or another Epi archtop?