Epiphone Custom Kat ES - need advice/review

[Soundslikefun]

I'm in the process of aqquiring an Epiphone Uptown Kat ES and I don't have any "user experience" advice for this guitar. Has anyone played or owned one that can let me have a better idea about it before I get it? It has the mini humbuckers.

Thank you for all your help.... it could save me on a bad or justify a good purchase.

[davidd]

I have an Epiphone Riviera semi hollow with mini HB's. Sweet pickups but they are much less full than standard HB's. More in the single coil realm. It depends what you are looking for. I actually love them because I'm of the school that likes clean tones and I prefer a guitar that I can thicken up with eq than having to fight muddy pickups. I'm a big fan of Epiphone semi-hollows.

[lowrider]

Do you mean the Uptown Kat? If so, it should be a nice guitar, similar to the ES335. I have an ES335. It's my first electric. When I got it in November, I thought that if I liked it, I'd get a Gibson. Now I feel like I don't really need a Gibson, the Epi 335 is great for me.

Good luck with your new guitar, what color?

[GoPappy]

Are you talking about the Uptown Kat? I'm not aware of a "Custom" Kat. I've looked at the Uptown Kat and it looks like a well-made guitar with some good features. It's about the size of the Gibson ES-339, which is a good thing IMO. The main thing I don't like about it is that it's made in China.

I have an Epiphone Alley Kat, which is very similar except that it has a full humbucker in the bridge position and a pretty hot mini-humbucker at the neck. The Alley Kat hasn't been made since 2008, so I'd be shocked if the mini-humbucker in my Alley Kat is the same as the ones in the Uptown Kat. But I can tell you that the mini-humbucker on the Alley Kat is the main attraction. It can do cleans just fine, but it rips when you add some gain to it.

I like the neck on it, but it won't be everyone's favorite. It has the typical 1-11/16" nut width, but it is a thin neck. Those who like thicker necks, especially those who like playing baseball bat necks, probably won't like the necks on the Kat series.

Sweetwater sells the Uptown Kat for $650, which is priced right there with the Epiphone ES-335s and 339s, the lower priced PRS SE series, the Gretsch Streamliners, G&L Tribute series, Guild Starfires, etc. But right above that range are some really nice guitars like the Gretsch Electromatics (which, IMO, are better bang-for-your-buck than the Streamliner series), the Epiphone Sheraton II's, and the PRS SE semi-hollow guitars. And that's not even getting into solid body guitars.

So, in that $600 - $850 range, there are a LOT of good semi-hollowbody guitars. If it were me, I'd handle and play as many of them as possible to make sure I was buying the one that I really connected with.

[Soundslikefun]

I indeed had the model name wrong it's an Uptown Kat ES. How about the ease of playing with it being an archtop? I am on the fence for the Gretsch instead. I haven't held it yet and If it has neck dives that doesn't bother me that much. I'm sure the advertising for any product will say that product is exceptional but I believe it has Epi ProBucker Pro FB720(?) pickups, but I have never heard of them before. So here's the question - would you buy it or hold out for a Gretsch or ES335, ES339? I value the knowledge and advice from all of you guys. And if you have held one, did it feel cheaply made body wise?

Thanks!

[davidd]

The first question is why do you think you want and need this guitar?

[Soundslikefun]

We play a lot of country, folk, lt. rock, r&b and gospel. I have ever owned a semi-hollow body guitar so I wanted to try it out if it's worth it. I am curious if this model could possibly be a mishap if the quality is not is the playability, sound and quality?

[guitararmy]

I very briefly played one that belonged to someone else.
I recall the neck profile feeling sorta chubby.
I am used to playing strats, so that is what I like.

[Soundslikefun]

So I am trying to replace my LTD with one I would play a lot. If it would just be a space taker, I'd rather not get it....

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Soundslikefun

...So here's the question - would you buy it or hold out for a Gretsch or ES335, ES339?

If price is a consideration, for an extra $200 or so @ Sweetwater you can have one of the last Korean-made 5400-Series Gretsch Electromatic hollowbodies. Speaking as a Gretsch player since 1964 they're some of the best-built/playing/sounding instruments ever to wear the Gretsch marque - fully gigworthy guitars that exceed the quality of much of the Golden-Era Brooklyn stuff, and give up very little in fit/finish (and absolutely nothing in the way of tone/playability) to their MIJ Professional Series stablemates @$2500+; while "That Great Gretsch Sound" isn't everyone's cuppa tea (and FYI was never intended to be, then or now), if you're shopping in the under-$1K hollowbody market you'd be remiss if you didn't at least take one for a test drive...

Here's some links:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...vintage-orange (a near dead-ringer for the Professional Series version - BTW some of the folks around here own them, so you may want to look up a few of the NGD reviews)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ut-matte-black
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-vintage-white
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-matte-phantom

[Soundslikefun]

So the guy has his new Uptown Kat ES - red, no case, it has finish checks on both sides of the neck that are hairline and claims they are not cracks. It looks completely new. He said he would also accept partial trade for it. My ESP LTD EC-256 DBSB, case, and a 2 month old new in box my BOSS CE-5 and $100 for his Epiphone Uptown Kat ES guitar with Epiphone used hardshell case.

I like the idea of playing a Semi-hollow body and Epiphone at that.

I paid $645 out the door for my LTD under 8 months ago and it's mahogany neck and body but I don't play metal and I believe it is for sure a metal/rock guitar.

After I got it, I knew I should've went with the Gretsch line first.

[davidd]

I'd run away from that asap! Maybe a straight trade for guitars, but what he wants is baloney. Also even finish cracks severely diminish a guitars value IMO. For the music you play a nice Telecaster would cover most of your needs. Be patient. Just try and sell whatever you don't want and in the mean time play a bunch of different guitars so you don't end up with another impulse purchase. Deals always come along in life...

[Soundslikefun]

I wondered due to the price of the Uptown Kat new, but my ESP LTD still has the plastic on it and coil tap paper around the knob. And my LTD is in NEW no scratches at all because I didn't try to keep playing it I just stored it in a soft case until now. So, I'm with you and I believe I will list it for sale. I only became interested in the Uptown Kat because it involved a trade. On a fixed income I don't believe I will be able to touch a Gretsch much less a decent Tele. I would like it if I could though.

Thanks everyone of you guys!


I sure am looking for a different guitar due to we don't play metal or hard rock...

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Soundslikefun

...On a fixed income I don't believe I will be able to touch a Gretsch...

Good used Korean 5420/5422 Electromatics can be had in the $500-600 range if you look around - and if you can sell your ESP and Boss CE-5 privately, you should be able to make a significant dent in that figure...

Never say never...

[davidd]

Originally Posted by Soundslikefun

I wondered due to the price of the Uptown Kat new, but my ESP LTD still has the plastic on it and coil tap paper around the knob. And my LTD is in NEW no scratches at all because I didn't try to keep playing it I just stored it in a soft case until now. So, I'm with you and I believe I will list it for sale. I only became interested in the Uptown Kat because it involved a trade. On a fixed income I don't believe I will be able to touch a Gretsch much less a decent Tele. I would like it if I could though.

Thanks everyone of you guys!


I sure am looking for a different guitar due to we don't play metal or hard rock...

I'm a Tele addict and let me assure you that the Squier CV Tele's are all you need in a Tele. Get a used one for $300 or less.