Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar (Used)
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- Product #581889
A serious twangin', rockabilly-slingin', country-flingin' machine!
The Epiphone Emperor Swingster features archtop jazz guitar styling and updated electronics including SwingBucker pickups with push/pull tone controls that allows a choice of standard series or parallel pickup wiring for a brighter tone. The Swingster guitar has a shorter 24-3/4" scale that helps facilitate challenging jazz chord inversions. The body features a spruce top, a laminated birch/maple body and a 3-piece maple neck topped with a rosewood fingerboard. Other vintage features of this hollowbody electric guitar include chrome hardware, Grover Rotomatic 16:1 tuners, bound f-holes, thumbnail fingerboard Inlays, and a Bigsby licensed vibrato tailpiece with wire arm along with a "pinned"(non-floating) Tune-O-matic bridge with roller saddles for smooth operation and accurate return to pitch which is preferred when using the vibrato.
Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.
Features
- Style: Single-cutaway archtop
- Body: Laminated maple/birch
- Top: Select spruce
- Neck: Set 3-piece hard maple
- Scale length: 24-3/4"
- Neck profile: Slim-tapered
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard radius: 14"
- No. of frets: 20
- Fingerboard inlays: Thumbnail Inlays
- Nut width: 1-11/16"
- Neck pickup: SwingBucker
- Bridge Pickup: SwingBucker
- Controls: 1-Neck Volume, 1-Neck Tone (push/pull – series/parallel), 1-Bridge Volume, 1-Bridge Tone (push/pull – series/parallel), 3-way toggle pickup selector
- Hardware: Chrome
- Tuners: Grover Rotomatic 16:1 tuners
- Bridge: Rosewood bridge (Pinned)
- Tailpiece: Bigsby vibrato with wire arm
- Finish: Polyurethane
- Case: Not included
An archtop jazz guitar that you can afford!
Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 25 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Fun to play (6)
- Good feel (6)
- Good tone (5)
- Good pick up (4)
- Solid electronics (4)
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming (5)
- Practicing (5)
- Recording (5)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Novice (3)
Most Liked Positive Review
Case Search
This is a well built instrument and sounds like a dream. My only con listed is the fact that they allowed certain blemishes to pass QC. I ordered from MF and have considered returning ...Read complete review
This is a well built instrument and sounds like a dream. My only con listed is the fact that they allowed certain blemishes to pass QC. I ordered from MF and have considered returning due to these minor blemishes in the finish. Other than that, this thing sounds and plays great. I have searched/read many comments about the correct case for the Swingster and steeed away from the Joe Pass case beause of the comments here. I own an AJ200S and bought a Road Runner case @ GC at the time of purchase - very snug fit for the AJ. The Swingster also fits pretty well in this case. I bought the Epi AJ case after the fact from MF after reading it might be a good match for the Swingster and figured if it did not work, the AJ would fit instead. That is exactly how it turned out. The Swingster had a more secure fit in the Road Runner case. Sorry for those interested but I do not know the model of the RR case. I have included pics of the fitment in each case.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Transparent Black Top is Really Green
Beware the Transparent Black Finish! Another reviewer posted that the top actually appears green, and this is not unique. The light black stain lets the laminated wood of the sides, back, and neck...Read complete review
Beware the Transparent Black Finish! Another reviewer posted that the top actually appears green, and this is not unique. The light black stain lets the laminated wood of the sides, back, and neck show through. The sides, back, and neck do appear black-ish. The headstock is painted black on the front, and so is a different black than the neck, back, and sides. However, the top appears green unless viewed from an angle or in shadows. It is not unattractive, but I wanted a black guitar. Epiohone would have done so much better to just paint the thing black like the headstock front, instead of the transparent black finish on top of the spruce top creating a green finish. Since I did not also get an amazing, "I don't care about the appearance" tone out of the guitar, I returned it.
Reviews
Reviewed by 25 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Practicing
- Recording
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
This is my second Swingster. Both are beautiful instruments! I have had this guitar for about 3 days now. It was set up and ready to play. It was just a little out of tune. I play fingerstyle ( Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Mark Knoffler)and to me this is what I have been looking for. I don't think I could have done better.
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Practicing
- Recording
- Small Venues
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
Got my Swingster last Friday. Couldn't be happier with my purchase. If you're looking for a big man's guitar at a budget price this is the one!
I play the Travis style and this ax is perfect.
Would be good for the Atkins picker too.
Playing since 1965.
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Practicing
- Recording
- Rock Concerts
- Small Venues
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
Beautiful workmanship and finish. This guitar has so many different sounds with the semi-hollow body. The tremelo is easy (soft touch) and very fun to use. I like the angle of the tremolo bar instead of a straight bar. It is much easier to use when playing riffs and chording. I got the orange color and it surely rocks. The binding and finish is perfect and the tuners hold the tune very very even when using the Bigsby. The inlaid MOP on the headstock is absolutely breath-taking!
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
Cons
Best Uses
- Practicing
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
This actually was a present for my brother, and he was really glad with the guitar and he trust that this guitar will really become his best friend now.
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Tone
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Recording
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
This is a well built instrument and sounds like a dream. My only con listed is the fact that they allowed certain blemishes to pass QC. I ordered from MF and have considered returning due to these minor blemishes in the finish. Other than that, this thing sounds and plays great. I have searched/read many comments about the correct case for the Swingster and steeed away from the Joe Pass case beause of the comments here. I own an AJ200S and bought a Road Runner case @ GC at the time of purchase - very snug fit for the AJ. The Swingster also fits pretty well in this case. I bought the Epi AJ case after the fact from MF after reading it might be a good match for the Swingster and figured if it did not work, the AJ would fit instead. That is exactly how it turned out. The Swingster had a more secure fit in the Road Runner case. Sorry for those interested but I do not know the model of the RR case. I have included pics of the fitment in each case.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Z-Man
In RR case lid does not depress Bigsby arm much
Images shared by Z-Man
In Epi AJ case too much wiggle room
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Practicing
- Recording
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
This guitar gives tone right out of the box that you don't get anywhere else. It's a great compliment to my Strat. First time I played it I couldn't believe how good it made me sound! And the factory setup was spot on.
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
Beware the Transparent Black Finish! Another reviewer posted that the top actually appears green, and this is not unique. The light black stain lets the laminated wood of the sides, back, and neck show through. The sides, back, and neck do appear black-ish. The headstock is painted black on the front, and so is a different black than the neck, back, and sides. However, the top appears green unless viewed from an angle or in shadows. It is not unattractive, but I wanted a black guitar. Epiohone would have done so much better to just paint the thing black like the headstock front, instead of the transparent black finish on top of the spruce top creating a green finish. Since I did not also get an amazing, "I don't care about the appearance" tone out of the guitar, I returned it.
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
I have had mine a while now and it just gets sweeter with age. This guitar has great twang but it can also do mellow with the best of them. If I had to emphasize one aspect of its sound, I would say clarity - perhaps because of the spruce top. This guitar sounds so good that in some situations I prefer it over some other guitars that are much more expensive. It's that good!
Bigsby tremolo, series/parallel pull up switches on the tone controls - and a spruce top. The flamed maple sides and back are stunning.
It's beautiful to look at, has great tone, versatility, and playability.
I found no flaws in fit, finish, or hardware.
There is no better value and only one other guitar that matches it for value and that is the Gretsch 5120.
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
Only a 9 because this guitar is not for everyone. For Country, Blues, Classic Rock, Alt.Rock, Jazz, Folk, Surf Rock, Garage,Grundge Rock-a-billy ...aces!! it works. metal ng
This is an excellent choice for players that need or want a wide range of features and tonal variety. The Emperor is built for professional players and offers exceptional quality in all its features
. The only down side is the split coil sound is a little weak. Not unusual, every split coil option sacrifices power for tonal variety. It will just take a little adjustment.
Quality is excellent. One of the big surprises was the quality of the dry sound of this guitar. It has a beautiful big box acoustic sound. The dry sound [w/o amp] was very important to me. I spent a lot of time playing flat tops and I need that sound.[I may upgrade this with an acoustic p/u]
Add up the features, build quality and sound.. the best guitar I found in this price range. I tried dozens of different guitars in this price range, best value no contest.
Comments about Epiphone Emperor Swingster Hollowbody Electric Guitar:
Except for the Bigsby defect mentioned earlier this guitar is excellent. If my exchange is good I
will be very happy. It woulkd be nice to have a "natural" finish or even better a nitrocellulose finish
on stains instead of the painted options. Having said that however my wine red finish was very well
done and although the photos don't reveal this upon close inspection of the top there is a slight view of the wood grain beneath the polyurethane/red finish. And, to my pleasant surprise the guitar I
received had a very nice flame maple grain visible on the backs and sides. Sweet !
This is a very nice and versatile guitar. You can play rock, blues, reggae, jazz, folk and of course
rockabilly on this ax. It really is that versatile.
Quality was excellent for this price range. You can expect to do some fine tunning on frets and
general set up ,but that is standard for asian guitars in this price range.
I did have one "non fixable" problem which required me to send my guitar back for an exchange.
The Bigsby vibrato was loose and any tightening I could do with exposed nuts/screws did not solve
the problem. Too bad , because otherwise this guitar was really good. This is the kind of thing Epiphone should catch at there final US check center. Without this defect I would have given the guitar a 9 rating. I am awaiting the exchange and hope this is not a defect pattern. Will stay in
touch with new guitar upon reception
You need to spend 80-100% more to get a better guitar.
