Epiphone Songmaker DR-100 Natural Acoustic Guitar

I joined my first band in December 1967, back in the USA. I first performed in Nederland in 2012, and relocated here in 2019. In 2020, I began experiencing problems with both of my hands, subsequently diagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In order to keep playing, I switched to playing exclusively in open tunings, as doing so is easier on my hands. This meant I would need an extra guitar or two. In my time, I have owned and played Martin, Gibson, and Ovation acoustics. I bought my first DR-100 about 18 months ago, and recently purchased my second. I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of both instruments. Unlike many affordably-priced guitars, they have a good weight and feel to them. The necks were true, and the frets cleanly cut (there was no need to file down sharp edges). Both guitars were ready to play "right out of the box," only needing to be tuned. Next, the sound: I use brass-wound strings, which are brighter than bronze-wound strings, but they cannot salvage the sound of a poorly-constructed instrument (or an instrument made from lower-grade materials). I am happy to report both my DR-100's sound clean and bright, with a pleasant sustain. Not at the level of a Martin, perhaps, but comparable to any Gibson I've owned (which historically have tended to be more mid-range in sound/tone). As noted, these days I play exclusively in open tunings. Doing so places different stresses on the neck and bridge than the standard EADGBE tuning, often ultimately requiring repairs to the guitar. To date, however, I have yet to notice any problems with either the necks or the bridges of my DR-100's. Finally - of importance to any player, but especially one who uses open tunings - the tuning keys/machine heads are first rate. Easy to use, and there's been no slippage. All in all, I've found the DR-100 to be an excellent instrument and not "just for the price." This is much more than a budget-priced or beginner's guitar. I have used mine onstage and in recording situations without complaint and would recommend it to anyone without hesitation. It's certainly worth more than its current price tag.