Epiphone PRO 1 EAPCANCH1 Classical Guitar: Full Review

Overview of the Epiphone PRO-1 Classical Guitar

The Epiphone PRO-1 is an affordable nylon-string classical guitar made by Epiphone, the budget-focused brand owned by Gibson. As an entry-level classical model, the PRO-1 is designed to deliver good playability and sound quality without breaking the bank.

This guitar features a traditional fan-braced spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The slim neck and low action make it easy for beginners to learn on. While not on par with high-end classical guitars, the PRO-1 performs well for its price point. Its warm, balanced tone can handle classical repertoire as well as acoustic pop playing.

Overall, the Epiphone PRO-1 offers students and hobbyists an accessible way to start playing nylon-string guitar. While lacking premium appointments, it provides quality construction and sound at an attractive price. This review will examine the PRO-1's build, tone, playability and hardware to help you determine if it’s the right affordable classical for your needs.

Construction

The Epiphone PRO-1 Classic is constructed with a select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and mahogany neck. The fretboard is made of rosewood which provides a nice smooth feel during play.

The spruce top helps provide a bright, balanced tone from the instrument. Spruce is a popular choice for classical guitar tops as it offers a responsive sound.

The mahogany back and sides add warmth and sweetness to the tone. Mahogany is a traditional tonewood pairing with spruce tops, creating a versatile and well-rounded voice.

The mahogany neck provides stability and sustains notes nicely. Mahogany is a dense, strong wood that makes for a good fretting surface. Overall, the woods used in the construction help contribute to the PRO-1 Classic's resonant and rich acoustic voice.

The construction and material choices allow the Epiphone PRO-1 Classic to produce a balanced, warm, and resonant tone. This makes it a great choice for players looking for an affordable classical guitar with professional sound. While it may not have the prestige of a handmade classical guitar from Spain, the PRO-1 Classic punches above its weight with quality materials and craftsmanship.

Another competitively priced classical guitar to consider is the Fender CC-60S. This model also features solid spruce and mahogany construction with a rosewood fretboard. The Fender has a slightly wider nut width of 2.13 inches compared to 1.89 inches on the Epiphone, which some players may prefer. The tone is balanced and projects well. While the Fender may not have quite the same resonant voice as the PRO-1 Classic, it's another good affordable option for beginner to intermediate classical guitarists.

When choosing between the Epiphone PRO-1 Classic and Fender CC-60S classical guitars, it comes down to your budget and personal preferences. The PRO-1 Classic generally costs a bit more but offers all solid wood construction and potentially better tone. The Fender CC-60S is very competitively priced and gets you an all laminate construction with good playability. Whichever you choose, both guitars deliver quality classical guitar sound and playability at wallet-friendly prices.

Sound

The Epiphone Pro-1 Classical combines a solid European spruce top with mahogany back and sides to produce a balanced and rich tone. The flat top and slender body promote excellent projection, allowing the nylon strings to really sing.

The spruce top provides brightness and clarity in the treble registers, while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and fullness to the midrange and bass. Together, these tonewoods give the Pro-1 a very resonant and singing voice.

The fan bracing allows the thin solid spruce top to freely vibrate and project the sound outward. This results in excellent volume and sustain, allowing the true character of the guitar to shine through. Players can expect a balanced and nuanced classical tone from this instrument.

Whether playing along the lower registers or up high on the fingerboard, the Pro-1 Classical delivers excellent note definition and resonance. The tonewood combination allows each note to ring true and sing, providing players with an inspiring and beautiful classical guitar voice.

The Yamaha FD01S is another excellent entry-level classical guitar that delivers impressive sound and playability for the price. It features a spruce top with meranti back and sides, resulting in a balanced and resonant tone. The nato neck provides stability and durability, while the rosewood fingerboard facilitates smooth playability.

The FD01S produces a rich, warm sound that belies its affordable price point. The spruce top provides crystalline trebles, while the meranti back and sides offer midrange warmth and round bass notes. It has impressive projection and sustain, allowing the guitar's voice to fill a room.

Players praise the FD01S for its easy playability up and down the fretboard thanks to its comfortable neck profile and low action. The tone is balanced across all registers, making this a versatile classical guitar for various styles and techniques. Many are impressed by the quality of materials and construction given the very reasonable price tag.

From beginners to experienced players looking for an affordable secondary classical guitar, the Yamaha FD01S represents an excellent value. Its quality build and impressive sound rival more expensive models. For those seeking an entry-level nylon-string guitar that doesn't compromise on tone or playability, the FD01S is a great choice. With proper care and maintenance, it will provide many years of musical enjoyment.

If you're looking for an affordable classical guitar that delivers professional sound and playability beyond its price point, be sure to check out the YAMAHA FD01S.

Playability

The Epiphone PRO-1 Classical features a 25.5" scale mahogany neck with a 12" radius rosewood fingerboard. The nut width measures 2.09", providing comfortable spacing between strings for fingerstyle playing.

The factory setup offers medium action that is ideal for beginners, while still allowing more advanced players room to lower action to their preferences. String height at the 12th fret measures approximately 2.5mm on the treble side and 3mm on the bass side. This provides a good balance of playability across the fretboard.

The fretwork from the factory is quite good, with neatly dressed fret ends that don't have sharp edges. The frets are smoothly polished and consistent in height. Overall the neck feels comfortable and fast to play.

The slotted headstock allows for straighter string pull across the nut, reducing binding that can make it harder to press notes on the first couple frets. This improves overall playability and tuning stability.

Hardware

The hardware on the Epiphone PRO-1 Classic gives it a vintage look while providing modern playability.

The guitar features vintage-style tuners with ivory buttons. These open-gear tuners help keep the guitar in tune but give it an antique aesthetic. The nut width of 1 11/16 inches provides enough room for fingerstyle playing while still being comfortable for chord strumming.

The compensated saddle is another nice hardware touch, as it is crafted from quality bone. The compensation built into the saddle helps correct intonation across the fretboard. This results in chords sounding in tune even when played high up the neck.

Overall, the hardware complements the vintage vibe of the PRO-1 Classic while giving it the functionality needed for a variety of playing styles. The tuners, nut width, and compensated saddle make this an excellent choice for fingerpickers, strummers, and classical guitarists alike.

Electronics

The Epiphone PRO-1 Classic features a Shadow NanoFlex pickup system, which uses a thin and flexible sensing film to detect string vibrations for a very natural acoustic tone. This is different from traditional under-saddle or soundhole pickups, providing a more responsive and balanced sound across all six strings.

The guitar has volume and tone controls mounted discretely just inside the soundhole. The volume knob controls the overall loudness, while the tone knob allows you to shape the EQ from bright and crisp to warm and rounded. Having these onboard controls makes it easy to dial in your ideal amplified tone without any external EQs needed. Some players do wish for a built-in tuner, but the PRO-1 focuses on providing great acoustic tone options with just the essentials.

Overall, the pickup and electronics offer a very impressive plugged-in performance for a classical guitar at this price point. The tones stay clear and balanced, without excessive quackiness on the low end or shrill highs. The PRO-1 punches above its weight for amplified playing or recording.

Finish Options

Epiphone offers the PRO-1 Plus in several classic finish options that let you customize the look and feel of your instrument.

The guitar has a smooth gloss finish that gives it an elegant, polished aesthetic. The multiple coats of gloss lacquer help protect the wood while letting its natural grain shine through. This gloss finish accentuates the curvy cutaways and classic body shape.

For players who prefer a more muted look, Epiphone also offers the PRO-1 Plus in a satin finish. This flat, matte finish eliminates glare under stage lights. It also feels smooth to the touch without the stickiness of a gloss finish. The satin allows the natural wood texture to come through.

In terms of color choices, the PRO-1 Plus is available in traditional sunburst and natural wood finishes. The sunburst features a warm, amber center that gradually fades to black along the edges. This striking two-tone effect highlights the craftsmanship. The natural wood finish simply allows the guitar's mahogany or spruce tonewoods to speak for themselves. Both options retain an organic, vintage appeal.

So whether you prefer the striking gloss, muted satin, or a classic color, the PRO-1 Plus finish options let you find the perfect fit for your playing style and stage presence. The variety of finishes help this guitar stand out while staying true to its roots.

Price

The Epiphone PRO-1 Classic has an MSRP of $599, though street prices are typically around $299. This positions it as a mid-range classical guitar, affordably priced for intermediate players or guitarists looking to upgrade from a beginner model. While not exactly cheap, the all-solid woods construction and hand-carved bracing make the PRO-1 a good value at this price point. More budget-friendly options with laminate backs and sides can be found around $150-200, though they won't match the resonant tone produced by the PRO-1. This Epiphone occupies a nice sweet spot, providing professional level features and sound without breaking the bank. Players with a max budget of $300-400 should seriously consider the PRO-1 as it represents one of the better classical guitars available before prices start to climb into the $500+ range.

Pros & Cons

Sound Quality

The Epiphone PRO-1 Classic achieves a balanced, warm tone that's characteristic of classical guitars. The solid cedar top provides good projection and resonates nicely. The Indian rosewood back and sides add depth and clarity to each note. While it doesn't have the refined tone of premium classical guitars, it delivers impressive sound for the price point. The nylon strings have a mellow, rounded quality.

Playability

This guitar features a comfortable neck with a 43 mm nut width, making it easy to maneuver. The action is set low and the frets are finished smoothly, allowing for easy fingering and barre chords. The wider neck spacing compared to steel-string acoustics gives your fingers more room between the strings. The lightweight build makes the guitar easy to hold in playing position for longer periods. It stays in tune well even during vigorous playing.

Value

At this very accessible price point, the Epiphone PRO-1 Classic packs tremendous value, especially for beginners and intermediate players. While it doesn't meet the quality of professional classical guitars, it delivers impressive tone and playability. The all-solid wood construction makes it comparable to guitars costing much more. The hardware, electronics, and attention to detail are excellent considering the affordable price. Overall an excellent entry-level nylon-string guitar.

Conclusions

The Epiphone PRO-1 is a fantastic option for beginner and intermediate classical guitarists looking for an affordable nylon-string guitar with solid construction and balanced tone.

Overall, the PRO-1 delivers impressive playability and sound quality considering its accessible price point. The hand-selected solid cedar top provides rich low-end, while the mahogany back and sides offer balanced tone and sustain. The slim neck and low action facilitates comfortable playing, and the guitar projects nicely when fingerpicking or strumming.

Compared to other models in its price range like the Cordoba C5 or Yamaha C40, the PRO-1 is an excellent value. While it may lack some projection and refinement compared to premium classical guitars, Epiphone's excellent setup and quality control helps the PRO-1 punch above its weight.

Players looking for an intermediate nylon-string should definitely have the PRO-1 on their shortlist. While more expensive options do exist, the PRO-1's combination of build, sound, and playability make it a benchmark classical guitar under $500.