Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II Guitar Review

Blues and Jazz are styles of music that require high quality instruments to be able to play them well. The musician him or herself is still the number one conduit for musical expression, but for blues & jazz guitarists, the guitar is a close second in trying to create that high quality sound. Unfortunately for many of these musicians, prices for guitars designed to play these genres are often astronomical. In an effort to create an affordable yet high quality jazz instrument, Epiphone has made the Joe Pass Emperor II electric guitar. Let's see just how well Epiphone accomplished their goal.

Features: The body of the guitar is in the legendary Joe Pass signature style. It is a thick, curvaceous body reminiscent of the Les Paul. Maple makes up both the body and the neck of the Joe Pass Emperor II, and the entire instrument is laminated for protection. The neck is set into the guitar, and features a rosewood fretboard with rectangular pearloid inlays. The hardware on the Joe Pass Emperor II, including the tuning heads, pickup covers, and tailpiece, are all gold. The bridge, meanwhile, is made of rosewood. Additionally, in an effort towards authenticity, Epiphone even added its own simulated tortoiseshell pickguard. If I had to use one word to sum up the looks of the Joe Pass Emperor II, it would be elegant.

Playability: The first noticeable observation you'll make when you pick it up is that the Emperor II is big and thick. When sitting down, it can be a little awkward to play. However, this guitar isn't one most beginners would look at and immediately want, and most experienced players can handle the bulk. Other than that, the Joe Pass Emperor II plays like a Les Paul. The fret access is decent, and the action is acceptable as well.

Sound: This is the most important aspect of what Epiphone was going for with the Joe Pass Emperor II. In blues and jazz, it's all about the tone. And for many users, it's a little hit or miss. Depending your ear, you could find it either rich and fat or just plain muddy. My recommendation would be to play it in store to find out if it fits your preferences.

Overall: The Joe Pass Emperor II is a decent attempt by Epiphone to make a good quality jazz guitar. It isn't exactly the finest jazz instrument ever created, especially by the standards of notoriously pretentious jazz musicians. But, if you are exploring the genre and would like something to do it with, the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II may suit you well. And, a little tip, you can find a discount scratch n' dent version of it for about $450 online.