Epiphone Review: S-310

History: Been playing electric for over 40 years in pub covers as well as original bands. I play guitar + bass. Musical tastes range from metal/country/blues/alternative/reggae/drum'n'bass.

Purchase: I've owned 5 Epiphone strat copies which I buy for their necks which are a strat scale length with 22 frets and a Gibson Explorer Headstock. These guitars were bought online(Ebay type auction)$US80 - $US152.

What I Like About This Epiphone S-310: The neck,tuners, bridge,neck screws are all I keep - the plywood body is discarded for a solid body. Prefer oriental made bridge tailblock to fatter dimensioned US Fender spec.

What I Do NOT Like About The Epiphone S-310: Plywood body is thin thru and sounds thin. Pickups are generally yuck sounding MOSTLY DUE TO neck and middle pickups being mislocated...in the wrong position on the body.To remedy you would need to copy a US made strat pickguard's pickup locations and custom make a new pickguard due to standard US Fender pickguards NOT fitting Epiphone body...!!

Epiphone S-310 Quality Rating: Entry level - typical Korean late '80's/early 90's Samick factory quality.Necks prone to twisting,maple fingerbords/medium jumbo frets, great to play even so. 3k ohms output strat pickups 2 good sounds on 5 way switch. 5 way switches not good quality,noisy & needing replacement.500k pots generally ok but sometimes scratchy. Paint jobs adequate...candy apple red best.Black paint blooms or splits below clear lacquer.

Review Summary: The 22 fret neck and Explorer headstock are the best bits.Also love the Epiphone headstock logo which is usually mother of Pearl or Black. Quality is typical of Korean entry level guitars from late 80's early 90's. Recent Chinese Epiphone product blitz's this old stuff,quality wise. A lot of buyers bought due to Gibson branding.

Rating of this Epiphone product: 2

This Epiphone S-310 Electric Guitars Review Submitted By: David McGrath,Glenfield,New Zealand.

Review Date: 2008-01-07