Samick Guitars, do they hold up?

[Dani Pace]

I can't recall a thread on Samick guitars so I thought I'd start one. First, is there really a Samick guitar shop or does Samick subcontract to other shops/factories and just have the name put on? I wonder because some say made in Japan and others say made in Indonesia. Second, does anyone have one (or more) and if so how well are they holding up under normal use? Third, is anyone aware of any particular problems? I have a couple of friends who own music stores which sell Samick and they both swear by the quality. I've played quite a few of them and have to admit most of them play well and sound fairly good, I have to wonder though...will they still play and sound good in ten years or more? I am neither for or against them, just fishing for comments about them.

 

[foreverain4]

if i remember right, about 90% of the mid level to low end guitars are made by samick. kinda like what keller shells is to the drum industry....

 

[kq300325]

I have one of the greg bennett designed samick guitars. Its a Gibson SG clone. Had if for about 6 months and am using it as main guitar. Cost £200 and is easily as good if not better that the Epiphone and Vintage SG's.

Comes with Grover tuners and Wilkinson bridge(i think), and a set of seymour designed pickups!

If it got stolen i would defo get another. No probs with it so far, never goes out of tune when playing a gig, inotation and general setup perfect from factory.

Looks real nice too!!!!

http://www.samickguitar.com/tr2.html

 

[true-eurt]

I bought a used Samick a couple of years back,and it is a beautiful geetar! The front of the body is a Translucent black,encircled with Ivory, then an encircling of Abalone. Mother of Pearl flowers/cattails/leaves vining up the neck. I don't know what woods it is crafted from,but a deep,deep amber-brown color on back of body and neck. It also has Gold hardware, with two dual humbuckers(not sure if I said that right). It is absolutely Gorgeous! It plays very nice (I wouldn't dare call myself a player). It is not bulky, nor too heavy, and the neck is slim. Just right for my hands... ... I like its tone myself. I'll let you know in another 7-8 yrs if it has held up well. By the way, mine is made in Korea....

I also have a Samick Acoustic which is made in Indonesia...I don't "attempt" to play it nearly as much as the electric.

I had a Samick electric Bass, which I traded like an Idiot. I think I can get it back though. Once again, the neck on this bass was much slimmer than most,hence easier for me to errrr...try to play. And that is all the knowledge I can share without looking too retarded.....

 

[travelin travis]

from my experience, the Samicks hold up but I have never played a good sounding Samick acoustic guitar. I have also read that they make the majority of low end guitars. Too bad they can't make one of their own that sounds good. I think with an electric guitar, getting a proper setup done on about any cheap guitar can make a big difference.

 

[hixmix]

I've never owned a Samick-made guitar but everything I've read about them says they're very well made.

 

[Gabriel_0]

I was talking to my guitar tech the other day and he told me that Samick is owned Gibson. Has anyone else heard of this? This would explain why alot of guitars brands are avoiding the Gibson law suit.

 

[IronFlippy]

There might be some sort of deal where Samick can make low end versions of Gibson's guitars, but this is only a theory. I've been kind of interested in Samick as well.

 

[Adam P]

I don't own a Samick but at this guitar store I used to frequent in my college days they had a Samick "custom shop" (?) Tele style guitar. It had a translucent grey finish with gold hardware, maple neck, and a white pearloid pickguard shaped like Texas. It was an awesome looking guitar, and it was only $350. I always told myself I was going to buy it once I graduated, but I never did, and that was two years ago. I wouldn't be surprised though if they still had it. They never seemed to move their product at all.

 

[gibsonguy09]

I have a samick d1 acoustic. It holds up well, The mahogany front, sides, and back make it sound nice. It is a really nice guitar for the money. I have grover tuners on it. Its made in indonesia.

 

[billyshuler]

I have a really nice looking and sounding samick les paul copy. I think it's the artist series and it's got a african bobina wood top. It's a top notch guitar for the most part. The only problem I've had with mine is the screws that hold the strap buttons on and the tunning pegs do not hold at all. I had to replace them all with longer screws. Even with those problems, I am not at all sorry that I paid 400 dollars for it used.

 

[true-eurt]

I was talking to my guitar tech the other day and he told me that Samick is owned Gibson. Has anyone else heard of this? This would explain why alot of guitars brands are avoiding the Gibson law suit.

I went to a Samick site today in search of my geetar...could not find it But I did find a few interesting facts. Samick is not owned by Gibson, but does produce some guitars for them(Epiphone)...You pay for the name just the same as name-brand clothing. Indonesia is the biggest production country of the Samick Acoustics.There are mixed reveiws on them. The Korean made Samicks are considered the lower end of the electrics.Univox,Unicord, Westbury,Korg,Samick,Fender,Gibson,and others are all associated one way or another.There were lawsuits for copying styles etc.Some of the guitars are of good quality....They are made up of good tone woods, some exotic. Ovangkohl and Ebony from Africa,Rosewood from India and Rock Maple from North America.It is like anything else...Different strokes for different geetar taste.I wish I knew how to find out about mine though.If anyone has any suggestions for a Different type of search let me know.

 

[Clive Hugh]

I have a Samick electric made in Korea, I replaced the pickups with Bill Lawrence 450L's which improved the sound. I didn't buy it tho' a friend gave it to me as he was never going to play, I don't think I would have bought it as I had a bias against them, for no good reason.
It is made fairly well, action is OK. I also have a Epi acoustic made by them, it plays well but lacks a lot in the tone dept.
But it doesn't hold up against my Fenders.

 

[gitrguy87]

I was talking to my guitar tech the other day and he told me that Samick is owned Gibson. Has anyone else heard of this? This would explain why alot of guitars brands are avoiding the Gibson law suit.

I heard that Samick was owned by Schecter. But, im thinking that this isnt correct either.

 

[Dani Pace]

Thanks guys for the response. What got me wondering was that I picked up a Samick SG a few days ago from a pawn shop. I got a really good deal on it, this thing was "like new," not a scratch on it, no fret wear, still had the factory strings (5 of them anyway) even still had the vinyl cover still on the pickguard! It was too sweet of a deal to pass up, I only paid $90 US for it. Took it home, replaced the strings, made a few minor adjustments to the set up and have been enjoying it since. It plays, feels and sounds surprisingly like a "real" SG so if it holds up I will be a really happy old picker. Once again, thanks for the comments, any others will be appreciated.

 

[mjareo]

I have a question that perhaps folks can confirm or deny.

When I was in college, I was told by a guitar player I knew that the Samick (acoustic) guitars use (or at least used to use) the same parts as a high-end guitar company - I think it was Martin - but are assembled in a factory in Asia instead of in the states. Were they seriously pulling my leg on that one?

Thanks for any info - I've always wondered and never knew where to find the information.

 

[donkeystyle]

I have a question that perhaps folks can confirm or deny.

When I was in college, I was told by a guitar player I knew that the Samick (acoustic) guitars use (or at least used to use) the same parts as a high-end guitar company - I think it was Martin - but are assembled in a factory in Asia instead of in the states. Were they seriously pulling my leg on that one?

Thanks for any info - I've always wondered and never knew where to find the information.

it's probably not completely true, but not necessarily wrong. they use whatever the company that they're contracting under specs . they're given designs and specs for woods and the rest of the appointments and make them. they make some real crap and they make some great stuff.

someone was saying they heard that schecter owned samick......that was probably some kind of misunderstanding. i'm pretty sure i've read that samick manufactures for schecter and i can see how that could be mistaken as schecter owns samick.

on a side note........gibson just built the biggest guitar factory in the world somewhere in like korea or indonesia or something...i can't remember the location for sure, but the just the building is supposed to be acres upon acres.

 

[Richard Monroe]

I've actually met Mr. Samick, the owner, and at least one of his sons, and I assure you, *he* owns Samick, not Epiphone, or Schecter, or Gibson, or anybody else. I do own 2 Samick made guitars. An Epiphone Les Paul Deluxe, and a Casino. The Les Paul is a *great* guitar, but it needed new pickups. The Casino is a fair guitar, and will need new pickups eventually. I didn't like the tuners, which I replaced. I can't say much about Mr. Samick's guitar business. I met him in another capacity, as a designer and builder of some of the finest Olympic target bows in the world, as well as a number of cheap student bows.
I do quite a bit of archery coaching, and Mr. Samick was seeking input from American dealers and coaches on what products they would like to see. If you think about it, there are similarities in the technology- Laminated wood under tension from strings, etc. I also own an Epi SG, a wicked cheapie, made in Indonesia, which is a pretty good waaay cheap guitar, but not anywhere near the league of the Les Paul. I don't know if that one is a Samick.-Richie

 

[gibsonguy09]

I've actually met Mr. Samick, the owner, and at least one of his sons, and I assure you, *he* owns Samick, not Epiphone, or Schecter, or Gibson, or anybody else. I do own 2 Samick made guitars. An Epiphone Les Paul Deluxe, and a Casino. The Les Paul is a *great* guitar, but it needed new pickups. The Casino is a fair guitar, and will need new pickups eventually. I didn't like the tuners, which I replaced. I can't say much about Mr. Samick's guitar business. I met him in another capacity, as a designer and builder of some of the finest Olympic target bows in the world, as well as a number of cheap student bows.
I do quite a bit of archery coaching, and Mr. Samick was seeking input from American dealers and coaches on what products they would like to see. If you think about it, there are similarities in the technology- Laminated wood under tension from strings, etc. I also own an Epi SG, a wicked cheapie, made in Indonesia, which is a pretty good waaay cheap guitar, but not anywhere near the league of the Les Paul. I don't know if that one is a Samick.-Richie

When did you meet him? was it Greg Bennet or the actually samick guy that has been around since 1958 (when they started making guitars)

 

[darrin_h2000]

I have a maple L5 copy artist series...sounds pretty as the real thing.