What is my epiphone acoustic?
#1
Posted 27 May 2008 - 07:00 PM
#2
Posted 28 May 2008 - 05:09 AM
epiplayer66]Hi, on I have an older Epi acoustic that has a unique headstock logo. In pearloid it reads Epiphone then under [i, said:
Epiphone moved its acoustic production to Korea in 1983 and in about 1986 they also began electric production there with the Sheratons and Tele-Phones and Epi-casters and at about this point in time they started using the "Epiphone By Gibson" headstock logos on all of their Korean-made models and continued to do so for the next couple years so the guitars with the "Epiphone By Gibson" were made in Korea (by Samick) between 1986-1988. The "PR" or "Presentation" line of Epiphone acoustics actually began in Japan about 1979 but was moved to Korean with the other acoustic models in 1983. The reason the Korean-made models had the "Epiphone By Gibson" logo also was because there was still some electric guitar production still going on in Japan and the different logos differentiated the two countries of manufacture. For the most part there's little difference between the "Epiphone By Gibson" and the later plain "Epiphone" models.
#3
Posted 28 May 2008 - 09:07 AM
#5
Posted 28 May 2008 - 09:25 AM
That's the other Korea!!
#6
Posted 28 May 2008 - 09:32 AM
Quote
#7
Posted 28 May 2008 - 09:36 AM
Quote

This is a 1988 PR-350(S-for solid top)...so now I'M really confused..
as far as I know there wasn't any Epiphone acoustic production by Matsumoku who was making the line of electrics in Japan at the time (1986/1987). Your serial number does in deed date it to March of 1988..but it's in the format used by the early Korean-made guitars not the one used by Japanese-made guitars from this time frame.....someone??? anyone have a clue to what's going on here? The Japanese-made Epiphones from this period didn't use the "Epiphone By Gibson logo..they used a cursive logo that was a kind of throw back to the pre-Gibson Epiphones...maybe someone else knows..I know if Tad Miura (Mr. Tad) was around he could straighten things out but he isn't...so. As far as I've known Epiphone moved their acoustic guitar production to Korea in 1983 and the "By Gibson" logos were used for Korean-made instruments starting about 1986 but...somewhere in the tangled synapses of my aging brain I do recall there being a Japanese-made Epiphone Everly Brothers J-180 reissue made about this time..but it had the aforementioned cursive headstock logo...I confess, I do not have an answer ...
Does your guitar's interior label look like this?

this is from a late 70's/ early 80's Japanese-made Epiphone that I thought didn't fit in with the "all acoustic production went to Korea in 1983" thinking. since it dates to July of 1984 according to the serial number format but those numbers can be iffy at best.
Ignore the headstock I previously posted- I had confused it with the other guitar and the previous label wasn't from the guitar I thought it was... I have hundreds of examples of serial numbers on their labels and I'm still looking for the one I intended to post...
I'll keep looking into it but I can't promise an answer.
#8
Posted 02 March 2009 - 10:25 AM
#9
Posted 02 March 2009 - 09:25 PM
'09 Epiphone 'Inspired by 1964' Texan
'83 Gibson Invader (Now sold! Boo-hoo, bloody recession)
'02 Tanglewood TW-15 Baby
www.myspace.com/mattfallowsmusic
www.youtube.com/mattfallowsmusic
#11
Posted 03 March 2009 - 03:13 AM
#12
Posted 03 March 2009 - 10:40 PM
For more info: http://www.totallyguitars.com
#13
Posted 04 March 2009 - 09:21 AM
#15
Posted 09 December 2010 - 08:30 PM



The Oval sticker inside said:
quality since 1910
Model PR 350
Epiphone
Serial 1120398
guitardater says:
PR 350 'Presentation'
Guitar Info
Your guitar was made in
Korea
December c.1991
Production Number: 0398
The guitar is wonderful, perfect sound, beautiful harmonics and keep the tune for a long time.
However, at first glance is hard to play (blisters on the fingers for the rookies) but the incredible sound it's the reward.
What dou you think about this guitar, I wannna have all information. (solid, laminated, mahogany, good, bad, cool, whatever)
After all, it was my first guitar and I'm really satisfied.
Thanks for all your comments.
This is my first post, I'm from Chile.
(can you reply me in spanish or english)
Regards from here
Saludos desde acá
#17
Posted 30 December 2010 - 07:26 PM
#18
Posted 03 January 2011 - 02:54 PM
In fact, K'zoo labels, reading "Union Made" have shown up on some early Matsumoku made guitars from 1971. The apparent intention was to line out the "Union Made", then stamp the blue K'zoo labels "Made in Japan" next to it. At least one, I've seen, got out of the factory without the edit. This editing was done until pre-printed "Made in Japan" labels could be procured.
Something similar may have happened here.
Also, the Matsumoku serial numbering system was anything but serial. Not sure what it was, but determining a year of manufacture for Matsumoku made guitars is next to impossible.
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