James Bay?

[yelemusic]

Americans? Brits? Nobody?
I can't be the only human being who received his James Bay already! Would be a first for me
And that's in a country that wasn't meant to receive any of these guitars

If I'm currently the only one who could provide some sound samples, I might have to make some, despite my shoulder still making some problems.
Well, a couple of quick riffs can't hurt, right?

Gimme a coupla days though...

 

[Davis Sharp]

I'm sure you're more eager to play the guitar than we are to hear it, but you should let your shoulder heal first. You don't want to aggravate the injury and set it back a few days or weeks.

I know how you feel - a little. I was excited to be one of the first in the USA to have the green Casino Coupe - well at least the first American on Epi-Talk . Although it's a bit different in that lots of people have the CC in other colors.

 

[Cam]

Theres this video from South Korea, but thats literally it:

 

[The wood yard heywood]

Americans? Brits? Nobody?
I can't be the only human being who received his James Bay already! Would be a first for me
And that's in a country that wasn't meant to receive any of these guitars

If I'm currently the only one who could provide some sound samples, I might have to make some, despite my shoulder still making some problems.
Well, a couple of quick riffs can't hurt, right?

Gimme a coupla days though...

Still no genuine customer review videos on youtube either you must have the only ONE ring james bay check whats going on

 

[yelemusic]

Has anybody besides me received his/her James Bay axe I wonder.
Still only one vid on youtube as well. Seems like people don't buy this guitar. Or is everybody just so busy playing theirs so they forgot making reviews?

 

[Shadow Explorer]

Hello there, Definitely it sounds nice, so the most important part of the korean review we can all understand.
With that being said, it's missing a pickup and a cutaway. Body joining at the 14th fret, isn't doing it any favors, in terms of playability.
On the other hand it's good to see Old Epi models resurface, modernize them a little bit, woulnd't hurt. What I don't like, is them shoving a name in front of the guitar.

Epi has great alternatives to this (casino, wildkat, dot, es335 etc etc)
so this might very well be the reason.

Btw a bit late to the party, but enjoy yours in good health Just noticed the previous posts.

 

[The wood yard heywood]

This korean review is not bad i watched it all too listen to the guitar

 

[The wood yard heywood]

I actually have a theory in regards to why there is such a delay....

I was watching a recent ANDERTONS video about pau ferro compared to rosewoods fret boards on the new fender mexican strats......... AND in the video they explain the reason fender have started using this pau ferro is because most rosewood species of timber have now moved up the list in regards to protected and controlled.
Long story short if you have guitars with rosewood components you need an import lincense to import and a license to export.
So in the meantime if you already have guitars made with rosewood they can be held in quarantine at customs until you have correct paper works.


This is possible reason??? why would they not just explain this to customers
I purchased guitar 15july and still waiting delivery. Purchased From DAWSONS
I have recetly been told i will received 25th oct but on the website it says available for delivery aprox 11th of november

 

[yelemusic]

I had a look @ Andertons, and they claim to have 10+ in Stock. So I'd cancel my order @ Dawsons and get one from Andertons.

One thing about the fretboard: according to the specs it is rosewood. However, it is rather blackish unlike rosewood. Also when I applied fretboard oil it seemed that it didn't soak any of it up. It didn't change colour nor turned darker. Unlike real rosewood, which would soak it up and turn dark.
Not that I dislike the fretboard, not at all, but honestly it seems like they used some sort of synthetic material for it, like black Richlite or similar, more of a dark greyish shade.
I'd ask other owners to confirm but THERE ARE NO OTHER USERS yet!!!

I also oiled the bridge, which is also rosewood! Now THAT was a change in colour: it turned nice and dark. Seemed a bit dry at first, and when I applied some fast fret, it immediately turned dark where the oil touched. So I oiled the whole damn thing. Nice! Looks better now IMHO.

Anyway, I still like mine very much, especially now that I've got flatwounds on it (I know, that's not James Bay style!)! It really plays like a dream!

 

[Shadow Explorer]

Well considering the low number of production, and the fact it's a new model, not a lot of people would have one.
Plus it's specs might not appeal to the modern player.

Regarding the fretboard, I would not be suprised if they changed the material without notice.

 

[yelemusic]

With that being said, it's missing a pickup and a cutaway. Body joining at the 14th fret, isn't doing it any favors, in terms of playability.
On the other hand it's good to see Old Epi models resurface, modernize them a little bit, woulnd't hurt.

Why would they do that? They've got modernised guitars, guitars with cutaway and 2 pickups and playability all the way up to the end of the fretboard.
If you're interested in the James Bay guitar, you're a) either a die-hard James Bay fan, or b) you have been looking for this type of guitar with all its shortcomings and flaws. You're not after 2 PUs or playability up to the 24th fret. This guitar is what it is, and that's what I like about it. It's certainly not or everyone, but for those who like unique odd guitars

Now let's hope in 20 years from now this guitar is a collectors item and can be sold for a small fortune That's the only reason why I bought it

 

[Shadow Explorer]

But that's the reason it's not popular. A throwback instrument is always nice, but it is not destined to be someones first or 2nd guitar. As you said someone has to be actively looking for it, or to be a fan of the guy.

I don't believe any new Epi will become collectors item, but you never know.
Then again I never buy something with the prospect of selling it. so what do I know.

 

[Raiyn]

You guys are jumping to conclusions. First, CITES regs were a thing BEFORE this guitar was put on sale.

Now let's hope in 20 years from now this guitar is a collectors item and can be sold for a small fortune That's the only reason why I bought it

Second, I had NO idea who James Bay was prior to you guys hyping this guitar, and I can't be the only one in that boat. You also can't expect everyone who buys something to immediately post a YouTube review, the percentages don't work that way.

But that's the reason it's not popular. A throwback instrument is always nice, but it is not destined to be someones first or 2nd guitar. As you said someone has to be actively looking for it, or to be a fan of the guy.

I don't believe any new Epi will become collectors item, but you never know.
Then again I never buy something with the prospect of selling it. so what do I know.

I'll give you two out of three on that post.
Niche market? Yup.

Epi's as collectors items? I wouldn't discount that as readily. The Brendan Small Thunderhorse did well enough to spawn the Snow Falcon, and there's the ever popular Tony Iommi SG model. So there IS interest in signature axes, whether that translates into a "collector's" market is debatable.

I completely agree with your last point. Buy a guitar because you love it or can mod it into something you love. If you're buying a guitar based on some hypothetical future value, you're doing it wrong.

 

[yelemusic]

I completely agree with your last point. Buy a guitar because you love it or can mod it into something you love. If you're buying a guitar based on some hypothetical future value, you're doing it wrong.

So do I, I was merely joking I didn't buy this guitar with the intent to sell it in 20 years. Not that I'd be unhappy if it rose in value though
I too didn't knew who James Bay was, before I saw that guitar featured on one of those gear news pages. But even without James Bay written all over it, it's still a damn nice guitar, that I enjoy playing!

 

[Davis Sharp]

If you're buying a guitar based on some hypothetical future value, you're doing it wrong.

So I shouldn't have dropped $1M on Blackie?

 

[Raiyn]

So I shouldn't have dropped $1M on Blackie?

If you've got a million to drop on anything, what I say probably isn't going to make much difference.

On the other hand, there's a distinct difference between a signature model, and a guitar owned by a legend - particularly if said person is famous for using THAT axe on anything of significance.

 

[Peter C]

Hi, received mine in the UK at the end of September. Very pleased with it, the feel, sound and look. Believe it or not have a 1966 clone, a real one in great nick, which I didn't want to keep using all the time. It is very close to the original, but a little heavier than the original, due to more internal bracing. Dimensions are spot on. Acoustic sound slightly different, not as ringing (+ bracing I guess), but using PU hard to tell the diff. Will have a look at the fretboard tonight, but certainly black - stained the fingers a bit at first, so not sure what's going on there. I also oiled the bridge fully.
Slight differences are: tuners, length of trapeze, fretboard darker, grain not as prominent on the maple, truss rod and cover, but colour nearly bang on.
Bottomline I am still enjoying playing it and it's a keeper

 

[yelemusic]

Will have a look at the fretboard tonight, but certainly black - stained the fingers a bit at first, so not sure what's going on there.

Mine didn't stain my fingers. But it also doesn't look like wood. Does yours show any sort of grain? I oiled my fretboard, but it didn't seem to soak up the oil nor get any darker after wiping the excess oil off.

 

[Peter C]

it also doesn't look like wood. Does yours show any sort of grain?.

I've had a look with a jeweler's loop and you can see a very fine grain and various irregularities that you wouldn't get with a synthetic material. I think they've heavily sealed it with something to get that black colour/effect - god knows why. Might try rubbing it off with something at some point. Plus stating that the fingerboard is rosewood and not doing that would be a major fraud I would have thought. Mind all of the promotional photos you see show it as a lighter wood.
For those wanting to hear a bit of how it sounds check out

 

[Peter C]

Breaking News.......
On closer inspection of the so called Rosewood fretboard, I became more convinced that it wasn't.
So I contacted Epiphone and got this (shortened) reply today:

"The Epiphone division is using now basswood composite for the fingerboards of the James Bay signature"

So there we have it, sold under a false description of Rosewood. I feel duped to say the least.
Bad enough basswood, but basswood composite! Are they insane, they've just killed it's authenticity in one.